Ratton couple Bob and Sandra Lewis, who ran the YES Education Centre in Eastbourne for more than 30 years, had all their personal possessions taken by the gang, known to be targeting holidaymakers who hire cars when they arrive at Valencia Airport, last weekend.
Police rushed to the scene and told the couple the criminals had spiked the back tyre of their hire car and then followed them as they drove off, waiting for the tyre to burst.
It eventually burst on the road between the airport and Villa Real and the couple pulled over to the side of the motorway which was when the gang struck.
Sandra and Bob, who were on their way to their son Stuart Flynn's home and to see their grand daughter perform in a school show, said a car pulled up near them and a man got out and approached their vehicle.
"At first we thought he was a good Samaritan," said Sandra. "He was so nice, a helpful stranger who offered us assistance and told us to get out of the car as the lorries thundering past might hit us.
"He was insistent and I climbed across the passenger seat to get out safely. I went to pick my bag from the back seat but he would not let me as it was dangerous to get near the car.
"He then started to unload the boot to get to the spare and gave my husband the warning triangle to put out but as my husband walked away he then snatched my handbag which contained our money, passports, everything, and ran. His accomplice who was driving then sped off, leaving us in the road."
After the incident, on Saturday June 28, Bob used his mobile to call the police and when officers arrived they told the couple they had fallen victim to South American gangs who are often armed and stab anyone who tries to resist them.
The couple spent much of the weekend liaising with embassy officials to get travel documents so they could fly home on the Monday.
They have spoken out to warn other people hiring cars at the airport to be on their guard against such dangers.
Sandra added, "The police said we were very lucky not to have been hurt as the gang members carry knives. We just want Eastbourne people to be aware of this sort of thing happening when they go away."