Three alleged thieves didn't get far after robbing a U.S. couple Saturday at the central Pacific beach of Playa Hermosa when Tourism Police stopped them and reclaimed more than $10,000 belonging to the couple, according to a statement from the Public Security Ministry.

The U.S. pair, identified as Melissa Grace and Phillip Hemion, were sitting on the beach when a man asked them to borrow a match. When they said they didn't have any, he disappeared. A few minutes later, the couple was in the water when they saw the man, along with two others, take their belongings from the beach and drive away in their Geo Tracker.

The victims notified the Tourism Police, who stopped and arrested the three alleged thieves – two Colombians and one Costa Rican – in the neighboring town of Jacó.

Inside the vehicle was $10,300 cash belonging to Grace, the statement said.