The British Military Way or

“I’ve Got a Project for You”

Tim Wilson

Lt Col (Retd)

When you said “Mine”, I thought you meant the coffee!

RIP Fabrizzio Quattrocchi 1968-2004

Kidnapping and Ransom: Analysis

• Kidnapping Statistics – 98% of all kidnappings occur within ½ mile of the victim’s home or office

– 85% of kidnappings happen with the help of people who are close to the victim

– 90% of kidnapping victims survive

– 80% of kidnapping victims receive food and water

– Mexico has one of the highest rates of kidnapping in the world

– Kidnappers and their accomplices often do surveillance of their possible victims for 2 to 3 weeks before the commit the act of kidnapping

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Kidnapping and Ransom: Analysis Increase in Reported and Unreported Kidnappings in Mexico, 2008 to 2009

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

2008 2009

Unreported

Reported

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Source: EFE News Agency, Mexico, 2010

Kidnapping and Ransom: Analysis

Outcomes for Victims

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Kidnapping and Ransom: A Risk Management Process

Avoidance

• Avoid the Exposure

• Don’t get into situations where it might happen

Prevention

• Prevent it from happening

• Take steps to make yourself an undesirable target

Minimize Harm

• Cut your losses

• Remember that the main goal is to get the victim home safely

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Kidnapping and Ransom: Avoidance Avoid making yourself a target – Keep personal information private

• Don’t carry business cards, family pictures and credit cards in your wallet (this will prevent an express kidnapping from becoming a traditional kidnapping)

• Don’t give business cards to people that you don’t know • Eliminate your name and voice from your voicemail and cell phone

answering protocol Know your neighbors Don’t reveal information to people unless they need to know Check the backgrounds of everyone that works for you Remain alert at all times, don’t get distracted Park in safe, open, well lit places with spaces between cars Don’t stay in your parked car Keep your keys in your hand

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Kidnapping and Ransom: Prevention – Change your routines

• Often kidnappers will do surveillance to find out when you are most vulnerable. Change the following:

» The times of departures and arrivals » The days of the week » The travel routes » Destinations » Methods of transportation (car, SUV, etc.)

–Stay alert and be aware of your surroundings • Watch for someone following you. • Keep the vehicle in “drive” and engine running • Engage the automatic door locks

– Keep vehicle windows closed or only slightly open

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Kidnapping and Ransom: Minimize the Harm

• Virtual kidnappings… someone who sells you a false story

– “We have your daughter and you’ll never see them again unless you deposit $$ in XX bank account.”

– “We know where you live. We are going to kill you if you don’t pay.”

– “I am looking at you right now. I’m going to kill you if you don’t make a deposit $$.”

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Kidnapping and Ransom: Minimize the Harm

• Virtual Kidnapping

• Many experts agree that you should… – Say, “give me your number and I’ll call you right away” and hang up.

– Don’t answer the phone again.

– Locate your family immediately.

– Get a caller ID.

– Install an answering machine for calls that you don’t recognize.

– Don’t give out any personal or family information.

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TIME

ULTIMATUM

BREAK POINT

Kidnapping and Ransom: Minimize the Harm

Ransom Negotiations

VICTIM RELEASED

Kidnapping and Ransom: Minimize the Harm

Kidnapping and Ransom (K & R) Insurance – Costs/Premiums

• If it leaks out that an employer has this coverage – It may increase the likelihood that kidnappers will target employees covered

by this insurance – It may increase kidnapper’s demands – The policy may be cancelled

– Benefits: » Loss prevention/how to avoid kidnappings » Handle ransom negotiations » Reimbursement for ransom payments, medical expenses, etc.

– Frequency • 68% of kidnappings in Latin America are not covered by K & R insurance • 60% of employers have K & R coverage for some executives

(Source: The Steele Foundation, 2006)

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Sources, References, and Recommended Further Reading

AmCham (2010). The Impact of Security on the Corporate Environment: For a Culture of Prevention 2nd, Ed. American Chamber of Commerce. Mexico City, Mexico. Auerbach, A. H. 2009. Ransom: The untold story of International Kidnapping. Holt Publishing. Bolz, F., Dudonis, K. J., & Schulz, D. P. 2005. The counterterrorism handbook: tactics, procedures, and techniques. Boca Raton, FL. CRC Press. Clegg, Brett, & Gray. S. J. 2002. Australian expatriates in Thailand: some insights for expatriate management policies The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 13, 598-623. Clayton Consultants, Inc. (2007). Personal Security Handbook. 2007. www.claytonconsultants.com Clayton Consultants, Inc. (2009, August). Threat Rate Risk Management. (2009, August) K & R and Extortion Monitor. www.claytonconsultants.com Clayton Consultants, Inc. (2010) Kidnap Risk Brief: Annual Report Analyzing Global Kidnapping Trends, Statistics, and Tactics. www.claytonconsultants.com Durand, A. (2006). Kidnap, ransom, security, and insurance gain importance in today’s business world. Caribbean Business, 34, 29., Elango, B., Graff, L. A., & Hemmasi, M. 2008. Reducing the Risk of Becoming the Victim of Terrorism While on International Business Assignments. Simulation and

Gaming, 39, 540-557. Harvey, M. G. 1993. A survey of corporate programs for managing terrorists threats. Journal of International Business Studies, 24, 465-478. Norona, C. S. (2004). Kidnapping: What to do when you receive the call. A Presentation for ASIS International, Dallas, Texas. Overseas Security Advisory Counsel (2008). Surveillance Recognition. (2008). U. S. Department of State. http://www.osac.gov Ortega Sánchez José Antonio. (2009). 20 Años de Secuestros en México [Twenty Years of Kidnappings in Mexico]. Consejo Ciudadano para la Seguridad Pública y la

Justicia Penal A.C. México D.F. Pinkertons (2008). Autoprotection Personal Para Ejecutivos, Preventino de Amenanzas Delictivas. Pinkerton Consulting & Investigations (Mexico City; Mexico).

www.securitas.com/pinkerton/en Stratfor Global Intelligence. (2009). Global Intelligence and Security Report. (2009). www.stratfor.com The Steele Foundation. (2006). Kidnapping a Big Business on the Rise in Mexico. www.globalrapidresponse.com Wright, R. P. 2009. Kidnap for Ransom: Resolving the Unthinkable. Boca Raton, FL, CRC Press.

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Own goal?