Monday, October 9, 2017

Anti-Kidnapping Techniques

 
Unless you’re the kind of person who heads to Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, India, or similar high-risk countries on business or for a little R&R, it’s unlikely you’ve given much thought to the threat of kidnapping when planning your trips. But kidnapping has boomed over the past decade, thanks to the growing socioeconomic divide around the globe and the spread of radical groups. While kidnappers used to target rich locals, and the abductions were largely confined to a handful of countries, these days foreign business executives and tourists are now just as likely to be the victims, and the abductions can happen virtually anywhere.
 
A form of kidnapping that is becoming more common is some parts of the world is "express kidnapping". Express kidnapping is similar to a mugging, but instead of just demanding your purse or wallet; victims of express kidnapping are taken to ATMs and forced to withdraw money. In some cases, express kidnapping victims are held for a few days and forced to withdraw the maximum limit from ATMs until either their account is empty or the bank blocks further cash withdrawals. Express kidnapping victims may also be taken to back to their home, hotel, or business and forced to hand over any available cash, credit cards, or other valuables. 
 
 
http://presswire.com/pr/nya/160203-NYA-January-Kidnap-Review.pdf
 

To avoid being kidnapped you must not allow yourself to be put into a situation where an adversary can gain physical control of you.  It will always be preferable to avoid giving an adversary the opportunity to kidnap you, than to have to fight off a kidnapping attempt, or escape from a hostage situation.
 
Some kidnapping prevention tips include:
  • Vary your travel routes and times. Don’t set patterns that allow someone to ambush you.
  • Plan your routes before setting out, and always know where you are.
  • Travel with more than one person in your vehicle, or travel in multi-vehicle convoys.
  • Keep vehicle doors locked, and keep windows up anytime you are driving in a city, or stopped at an intersection.
  • Leave enough space between you and the car in front to give yourself an escape route.
  • Be aware of the possibility of surveillance and employ surveillance detection techniques.
  • Pay attention to other vehicles in front and behind you, and be aware of cars waiting in side roads or in off-road parking spaces.
  • Be especially alert when arriving at or departing from known locations, such as your home or work.
  • Maintain appropriate security at your residence to prevent home-invasion robberies and kidnapping. Install top-quality locks. Have an alarm system, and security cameras. In some cases a 'panic room' may be appropriate to allow you to lock yourself away from attackers.
  • Have a working cellular telephone, and know what numbers to call in an emergency. But remember when seconds count, help is just minutes away.
  • Be careful about revealing data on social media - Do not reveal too much about yourself or your family members via social media. No need to flaunt new cars, houses, or condominium units. Never reveal your home address on social media. Don’t post on social media the places you frequent.
  • Always be properly armed to allow you to resist a violent attack, such as a kidnapping attempt.
Whether you should actively resist a kidnapping attempt is situation dependent, and security advice often recommends not resisting your kidnappers. However, once kidnappers have you under their control it becomes that much more difficult to escape, and you are at the mercy of your kidnappers.

The US Department of State has said: "Kidnapping can take place in public areas where someone may quietly force you, by gunpoint, into a vehicle. They can also take place at a hotel or residence, again by using a weapon to force your cooperation in leaving the premises and entering a vehicle. The initial phase of kidnapping is a critical one because it provides one of the best opportunities to escape. If you are going to resist at the point of capture, do so as if your life depends on it; it most probably does."   
 
If you are armed, actively resisting (shooting) your kidnappers will thwart the kidnapping attempt. That being said you must be sufficiently skilled with your weapons to overcome the violence presented by your kidnappers. Which means that if you are going to carry a firearm for personal protection be sure that you know how to use it, and that you practice to develop and maintain your shooting skills.
 
According to U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics data, having a firearm and being able to use it in a defensive situation is the most effective means of avoiding injury (more so even than offering no resistance) and thwarting completion of violent crime, such as robbery or assault. In general, resisting violent crime is far more likely to help than to hurt, and this is especially true if your attacker attempts to take you hostage. 
 

 
Escaping Illegal Restraint 
 
Assuming that you have been kidnapped, have you thought about how you would escape from illegal restraint? For some this can be a very important consideration. As with every survival skill you must practice your techniques to perfect them. However, in order to practice a skill, you must first learn it.
 
I found an interesting video on YouTube that demonstrates skills for escaping from restraints:
2:25 - Zip Ties Intro
5:17 - Best Case Scenario Zip Tie Hand Placement
8:51 - Shimming Zip Ties
11:50 - Breaking Out of Single Zip Tie
13:39 - Breaking Out of Double Zip Ties
17:00 - Friction Sawing Zip Ties
22:41 - Breaking Out of Duct Tape
25:24 - Escaping from Handcuffs
34:51 - Cutting through Rope
37:55 - Wrap Up
 
The Tiny Inconspicuous Handcuff Key (TIHK) company http://tihk.refr.cc/66BCH4D sells small handcuff keys and other escape tools that should be of interest to anyone facing the potential need to escape from kidnapping or illegal restraint.
 
An article on Survivopedia: "Restraint Escape Kit: Why You Need the Ability to Escape"  lists several items that one might carry to aid in escaping from illegal restraint.
 
Many of the recommended items can be purchased from Amazon.Com:
If you know how to pick locks, or want to learn, it may be worthwhile adding a small set of lock picks to your escape kit. While lock picks can be purchased from many sources, some of my favorites are: 
The Black Scout Survival YouTube Channel has a lot of related information, and they sell an Escape & Evasion DVD that I recommend.
 

 
So, the bottom line is this. The chances of you becoming a kidnapping victim is pretty low, unless you are traveling to countries with a high kidnapping risk. But a low risk, does not mean no risk. ABC News once reported: "Phoenix, Arizona has become the kidnapping capital of America, with more incidents than any other city in the world outside of Mexico City and over 370 cases last year alone." (ABC News, February 11, 2009) 
 
A kidnapping may not start out as such, but arguments can escalate into assaults, and assaults can result in you being held against your will, being illegally restrained or kidnapped. If you are prepared to deal with the possibility of kidnapping then you reduce your risk of becoming a victim; and if you do become a kidnap victim you increase your chances of escape by having planed in advance for this possibility.

The US Department of State has published "Personal Security Guidelines For the American Business Traveler Overseas" which provides useful information in avoiding becoming a victim of kidnapping and other crimes while traveling.  Additional security advice is provided in "Security Guidelines For American Families Living Abroad". In the Spring of 2016, the US Department of State published a "Travel Security Form" to aid travelers in planning a safe trip overseas.


 
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