Ontario couple stranded with flat tire in Spain cautions others after being robbed on the side of the road

An Oshawa couple driving in Spain last fall said they got a flat tire and then to make matters worse they were also robbed.

As car manufacturers try to make vehicles more fuel efficient, many are now removing the spare tire – a big surprise if you get a flat.

An Oshawa couple driving in Spain last fall said they got a flat tire and then to make matters worse were also robbed.

“We get out and we see there is a flat tire on the driver’s side” said Sally Jurcaba, who was travelling with her partner James Dawson on a three-week holiday last September.

The couple say they had stopped to get supplies. When they returned to their rental, they say there were two people acting suspicious nearby. About 20 minutes after getting on the highway, they got a flat.

“We both looked at each other and said no one is going to help, lets change the tire” she said.

But when they went to get the spare tire out of the trunk, they got a surprise.

“James gets out and lifts the hatch and removes the luggage and lifts the cover and there is no tire” said Jurcaba.

Dawson added: “I was shocked. Growing up in Canada, we always had a spare tire.”

While they were trying to deal with the flat tire, the couple said a man came out of long grass on the side of the road, claiming he could help.

“He had a safety jacket on and he was pretending to be a Good Samaritan” said Jurcaba, adding that in the couple of minutes that they were behind the car someone came out of the culvert and grabbed her purse carrying their passports and all of their money as well as her partner’s camera bag.

The couple say they were left stranded for the next seven hours.

To add insult to injury, they say they couldn’t get through to AVIS, their rental vehicle company.

CTV News emailed AVIS but we did not get a response.

AVIS says on its website that the manufacturer “may not have equipped your car with a spare tire,” adding that if that is the case, an inflator and seal kit can be used temporarily to address a tire leak “so you can return to the nearest rental location.” The company advises customers to check the vehicle before they leave with it.

Lisa Glass and Matt Barber, of Toronto, vacationed in Newfoundland this summer and had a similar experience when their rental vehicle got a flat. They too say they were shocked to find out their car also did not come with a spare tire.

Along with inflator kits, cars may have a smaller size “donut” spare, which may not be enough to get you going if the tire is badly damaged. Some luxury vehicles may have a type of tire that allow drivers to travel about 80 kilometers to get help.

Jurcaba and Dawson say they wanted to share their story not just to warn others about rental cars not having spares, but also to warn them to beware of criminals who may give you a flat tire at a roadside stop so they can rob you on the side of the road.

“It’s just not worth fighting over a camera or personal belongings. You’re better off just giving them what you have. Being concerned about your personal safety is what matters” Jurcaba said.

Many drivers now have roadside assistance so if they get a flat tire they call for help. Nonetheless, l if you’re renting a car or taking a long road trip it’s good to know what your options are in case you do get a flat.