How to survive kidnappings

[Blakenzy]

I happen to be living in a part of the world that used to be relatively quite and not very hazardous so to speak. However in the past four-five years there has been an ever increasing crime level. A crime boom of sorts. Among the various crimes that are happening more and more often is kidnapping. All of the sudden this form of crime that was literally unheard of in this country is starting to show up in headlines monthly if not weekly. I am not a high profile person in any regard so I don't believe that I would be a likely target, but all this stills gets me thinking.

Since there certainly are some members here who are/were members of LE organizations or some form of security service that may know more about crime than me, I would like to ask the following question: According to the information YOU guys handle, are your chances of survival greater if you make an attempt to escape/resist the abduction or are you safer playing along and wait to be rescued or released post-ransom delivery?

To put things in context most if not all kidnappings involving adult victims in this country go down in a vehicular interception. Basically the victim is driving around and all of the sudden another vehicle(s) intercept them and armed men come out and demand the victim to get out. If faced with this situation what course of action would yield the highest probability of survival?

Of course there are a million and one variables but what usually works out best? Does any one have any statistics on this?

 

[AndyC]

It's impossible to say for sure because it mostly depends what the motives are of the group who've kidnapped you, and you generally won't know who they are till you've already been taken.

Example 1: You're a westerner kidnapped in South America - they're looking for a payday. Financial kidnapping - generally, only 1 in 10 victims are killed.

Example 2: You're a westerner kidnapped by Al Qeada in Iraq - they're looking for your head. Religious or political kidnapping - even odds as to dying.

Seeing as you haven't said where you are, your first task is to start researching what the results have been of any K&R incidents in your neck of the woods. Happy endings or no? From those results, judge for yourself - there are so many variables and no certainties.

Fight to escape - until you're no longer able, at which point submit to avoid them cutting their losses and shooting you. Course of action if kidnapped - you'll be in extreme shock, but be respectful, submissive, obedient, low-key friendly, but keep your eyes open for a decent escape opportunity.

Vehicular kidnapping - well, your vehicle is its own weapon. Take an offensive driving course to learn how and where to ram another vehicle. Forward and reverse rams, J-turns, reversing at high speed, surgicals, etc - there may be a decent course in your country, so do some research.

 

[AndyC]

Oh, yeah, I forgot - perform a threat analysis upon yourself.

Think of who you are, what's your ethnicity, your religion, your political beliefs, your perceived financial status, your professional position, everything that makes you you.

Think of the various groups active in your country - who is at odds with you? Who would benefit by kidnapping you for gain?

Research those groups - what tactics do they normally employ? What kind of vehicles? What kind of weapons? Where, on your everyday route (which of course is one thing you should never have), would they be able to use those tactics and techniques against you? Would they jump you when you pull into your driveway? At work? Would they push a baby-stroller into your path?

Etc, etc - think like the opposition

 

[Lucky]

This stuff is more how to avoid rather than survive, but the page is invaluable.


I Think the following would apply:

http://www.nononsenseselfdefense.com/five_stages.html

· Closing – The most basic form of positioning is simply walking up to the victim. The closer a criminal gets, the greater his ability to overwhelm and control. Five feet is the closest you should allow someone you don't trust to approach in a fringe area – whether you know him or not. If the person insists on coming closer after you have warned him away, he has clearly announced that his intentions are not good.

· Cornering/trapping - This is the second most basic form of positioning and the most common. He approaches you from a direction that traps you between himself and a large object, like a car or wall. This also entails his putting himself between you and an exit.

· Surprise – This is your classic jump-out-of-the-bushes type of position. The criminal puts himself in a place were you don't see him (or if you do, it is at the last minute). From this position, he can easily step out and attack. Once you know these locations, this kind of positioning is easy to foil

· Pincer – Professional criminals often work in packs, so you will not face just one. The most common maneuver for two criminals is the pincer. One criminal circles around while the other distracts you. You should always be aware of individuals splitting up when they approach you. Another trap is when two characters face each other in a narrow walkway in such a way that you must pass between them. A third trick is to spread out along a way, when you pass one he starts following you, while the other waits down the way.

· Surrounding – This is the most common ploy of a pack (three or more). Again, one will distract you while the others surround. They can swarm around you, but most often they will casually drift. A serious danger sign is when a group is spaced out along the wall in a walkway. When you are at midpoint, it is simple for the wings to fold in.

 

[george29]

The weak links that place most victims as victims is their politeness and lack of aggression. Think like a predator, a predator has eyes in front because it does not fear being attacked. It grunts, it moves slowly and casually where and how it pleases, without inhibition. If you are in fear of a kidnapping, I assume you move in circles of power and money, which means you outwardly present yourself as elegant and poised. There is a book that discusses how to become less of a target, it is called "The Gift of Fear". One example (not from the book), drive a heavt powerful vehicle and not some elegant small sports car (unless it has serious horses under the hood) but then you really need to take an evasive driving course. Nothing here will teach you what you need to know, you need to get out and find a hands on training school, just look for military contractors and research which offer schools (it will cost you a small fortune, assuming you have a large fortune).
Here's a list alphabetically:3D Global Solutions
AD Consultancy
AGS
Alpha Point Security[21]
AMECO
3S Security Support Solutions
Aegis Defence Services
AirScan Inc.
AKE Limited
Al Hamza
American International Security
Anteon International Corp.
Applied Marine Technology Inc.
ArmorGroup International PLC
Ayr Aviation
Babylon Gates
Ben Tal
BH Defense LLC
Blackheart International LLC
Blackwater USA
Blue Hackle Limited
Britam Defence, Ltd.
CACI International
Canine International
CastleForce Consultancy, Ltd.
Carnelian International Risks
Centurion Risk Assessment Services
Civilian Police International, LLC
Cochise Consultancy Inc.
Combat Support Associates, Ltd.
Control Risks Group
Crescent Security Group
CTC Training
CTU ASIA
Cubic Corporation
Custer Battles
Defence Systems Limited
Demming Enterprises International, Ltd.
Diligence, LLC
Double Eagle Management Company
DS Vance Iraq
DTS Security
DynCorp
Edinburgh Risk
Edinburgh International
EODT Technology, Inc.
Erinys International Ltd.
Evergreen International Aviation
Excalibre
Executive Outcomes
Executive Solutions International
Falcon Group
Genric, Ltd.
Greystone, Ltd.
Global Marine Security Systems Company
Global Options, Inc.
Global Strategies Group
Golan Group
Group 4 Securicor
Hart Group
Henderson Risk, Ltd.
Hill and Associates
Homeland Security Corporation
ICP Group, Ltd.
International Charter Incorporated of Oregon
ISEC Corporate Security, Ltd.
ISI Security
J-3 Global
Janusian Security Risk Management Ltd.
Keenie Meenie Services
Kellogg Brown and Root
Kroll, Inc.
Landmine Sourcing, LLC.[22]
Levdan, Ltd.
Management and Training Corporation
Main Street Supply & Logistics
Medical Support Solutions, Ltd.
Meteoric Tactical Solutions
Meyer and Associates
Military Professional Resources Inc.
Mushriqui Consulting
MVM, Inc.
NAF Security
Neareast Security
New Korea Total Service
Northbridge Services Group, Ltd.
Pistris, Inc.
Olive Group
Omega Risk Solutions
Operational Risk Management Consulting
Optimal Solution Services
Orion Management
OSSI-Safenet
Overseas Security and Strategic Information, Inc/Safenet - Iraq
Pacific Architects and Engineers, Inc.
PSI International
PSD Training
PWC Logistics
RamOPS Risk Management Group
Reed, Inc.
Ronco
Rubicon International Services, Ltd.
Saladin Security
Sandline International
SCG International Risk
Science Applications International Corporation
Securiforce
Security Applications Systems International LLC
Select Armor, Inc.
Sentinel
SGS
Silver Shadow
Smith Brandon International
Southern Cross Security
Special Operations Consulting-Security Management Group
Special Ops Associates
Steele Foundation
Sumer International Security
Tarik
THULE Global Security International
Titan Corporation
Toifor
Total Intelligence Solutions, LLC
Triple Canopy Inc.
Trojan Securities International
US Investigations Services
Unity Resources Group
USA Enviromental
Vinnell Corporation
Vinnell Brown and Root (VBR)
VIP Investigations & Protective Services Inc.
Wade-Boyd and Associates LLC
Whitestone Group
WVC3 Group, Inc.

 

[Blakenzy]

Yeah, I know that anything posted here falls short of what I really need to know/learn but I was more interested in getting numbers or statistics concerning the fate of kidnapped victims if anyone has any access to them.

I am living in South America (Paraguay) and most if not all kidnappings have a capitalist agenda behind them (crime for profit). Abductions motivated by political issues or hate are unusual. It is very hard to get statistics from government agencies in this country, simply beacuse of sloppy record keeping. I am just looking for broad info on kidnappings in this corner of the world. What happened to the victims in relation to how they reacted when attacked, or in other words what yeilds a greater chance of survival: resisting or complying?

 

[Run&Shoot]

MOst of what I have heard from acquaintenances from like Argentina and Brazil is that the kidnappings are for relatively small amounts. They nabbed you, demand a small ransom that can bepaid quickly, and release you. It is more like neighborhood extortion. Instead of threatening to break up your place of business if you don;t pay protection money, they nab you and demand a small processing fee, maybe $500 or the like.

We are even seeing some of this affect us in the US. Several couples that planned to adopt a small child from a Latin American country suddenly find that before they can pick up their adopted child he/she has been kidnapped. Our frame of reference is a kidnapping means an almost impossible amount of ransom and a 50/50 chance even then of ever seeing them alive.

But it seems the neighborhood level of kidnappings are intended to be just a quick payday, not a long drawn out event with negotiating, etc. In that case it would be better to just cooperate and get it over with ASAP. You could prepare for it by having enough money readily available in cash by a family member to make a quick payment. Just don;t spread the word that you have ransom money lying around waiting to be collected!

The best thing is to take steps as described above to avoid becoming a target for a kidnapping.

 

[TheLastBoyScout]

Our frame of reference is a kidnapping means an almost impossible amount of ransom and a 50/50 chance even then of ever seeing them alive.

Remember that...

The American "kneejerk response" to a kidnapping attempt is based on the belief that going to a secondary crime scene is a death sentence anyway, so you might as well take a few to hell with you...

This is because our FBI has made "economic kidnapping" unviable--they got good enough at dealing with it that no one believes they'll be able to get paid off AND avoid prison. As a result, the assumption is that if you get kidnapped here, you're not coming back.

 

[LAK]

Make your counter attack or escape early. Your chances of success diminish the longer you wait. Don't count on the mercy of thugs.

Avoidance is best; do not get taken by surprize - you are already at a severe disadvantage when this occurs.

--------------------------------

http://ussliberty.org
http://ssunitedstates.org