'How did this happen?' Canadian couple stranded in Turks and Caicos after passports stolen

A celebratory trip has turned into a nightmare for a Mississauga couple stranded in the Turks and Caicos Islands after their Canadian passports were stolen during a break-in at their rental property.

A celebratory trip has turned into a nightmare for a Mississauga couple stranded in the Turks and Caicos Islands after their Canadian passports were stolen during a break-in at their rental property.

Jessica Botelho and David Parreira travelled to the islands on Feb. 10 to celebrate her mother’s 70th and aunt’s 60th birthdays with 26 other family members. They were scheduled to return to Toronto one week later on Feb. 17.

But one day after they arrived there was a break-in at the two-bedroom apartment they were sharing with Botelho’s cousin and spouse that resulted in the theft of a number of items, including their passports.

“When we came home, it was very evident that the place had been ransacked,” Botelho told CTV News Toronto in an interview.

“And when I walked into my bedroom, basically, there was glass all over the floor and a rock, so you know, they smashed the window, got in and took whatever they could.”

Botelho said cash, phones, and other valuables were also stolen. The passports of Botelho’s American cousin and spouse were not taken. Parreira’s phone was also left behind.