It’s a stunning locale known for its powder-white sand beaches and sparkling turquoise waters, but travellers are being warned against travelling to the Turks and Caicos because of surging crime and sexual assaults.The US State Department issued a Level 2 travel advisory that urges Americans to “exercise increased caution” to the Caribbean destination.“There have been reports of sexual assaults in the Turks and Caicos Islands,” the alert this week read, the New York Post reports.Most of the crime occurs in Providenciales, which is the main tourist destination and home to Grace Bay Beach.“Petty crime is common, especially in popular tourist locations,” the alert stated.Most crime targeted against foreigners is “crimes of opportunity,” like purse snatching and pickpocketing, as well as overcharging and scams, according to officials.Scammers will also offer free gifts that lead to money demands.Police on the island may have “limited resources to investigate crimes,” the alert continues.Turks and Caicos is much less popular among Australian tourists, to the extent the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Smartraveller doesn’t actually issue advice for the country. But the luxury destination is popular among American tourists, with Kylie Jenner recently posting photos of her envy-inducing visit there.The warning from US officials comes amid a series of recent travel and security advisories.In June, powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela, prompting the State Department to update its longstanding Level 3 travel advisory.The same month, the US Embassy in Jerusalem warned Americans that the security environment across the Middle East remained “complex” and could change rapidly.This article originally appeared on the New York Post and was reproduced with permission