KIDNAP AND RANSOM

by KJ Howe


KIDNAP AND RANSOM

What images do those two words conjure up in your mind? Bandits (not Banditas!) toting Uzis, large suitcases of money, a woman being dragged out of a car? I've been doing research on this topic and the results have been fascinating—and somewhat unexpected.

Did you know that:

Hundreds of businessmen a year are kidnapped with ransoms reaching $30 million dollars a year.

When it comes to the vulnerable super-rich and famous people, so much secrecy surrounds the business that experts can't get an estimate in the money paid out—the only info available is that one in three kidnappings goes unreported and ransoms of $5 million aren’t uncommon.

Some wealthy individuals implant homing devices in their bodies, although the pros say that the devices aren't helpful and they leave a telltale bruise.

The cost of protection against kidnapping has become a major business. Armored Mercedes, multi-million dollar kidnap ransom insurance, $4,000/day professional kidnap-negotiation services have become the price to pay for being a possible target.

In the movies, the kidnap/ransom agent draws out the call, engaging the kidnappers. In real life, the conversation is short, punchy, and never sweet.

In the United States, 95% of all kidnappers are caught. In places like Colombia, Mexico, Guatemala, Brazil, Russian and the Philippines (hot spots for kidnappers), 99% of kidnappers are never convicted. Kidnapping is often accepted as yet another form of business for out-of-work police and soldiers. In some countries, the same gangs negotiate over and over again with the same kidnap negotiators and get to know one another's voices.

The survival rate of people with kidnap insurance is 85%. The policy often includes lost wages to a corporate victim, a family vacation and psychiatric help afterward—all of which are desperately needed. People who are kidnapped have an incredibly difficult time readjusting to real life—being held in captivity with no news is like being in a time capsule, the world goes on but yours doesn't. Also, when a member of your family gets kidnapped, it's like the whole family is kidnapped. The family is imprisoned in the home, waiting for the next call, for any news.

There are more fascinating facts and figures involved in the netherworld of kidnapping, but I need to save something for the novel I'm working on...so please forgive me for holding out. LOL


I'd love to hear whether your thoughts on these questions or any others the blog might stir up:

Should ransoms be paid or is that playing into the kidnappers hands? (Some non-profit organizations can’t afford to pay or have a strict no-pay policy.)

Should kidnapping protection be left to private industry or should the government get involved?

What advice would you give to someone who has been kidnapped?

What is the best book/movie you’ve read/seen about kidnapping?

Thanks for dropping by the blog today! Hope I didn't scare anyone. :)
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