Express kidnapping ( es, secuestro exprés; pt, sequestro relâmpago) is a method of
abduction
Abduction may refer to:
Media
Film and television
* "Abduction" (''The Outer Limits''), a 2001 television episode
* " Abduction" (''Death Note'') a Japanese animation television series
* " Abductions" (''Totally Spies!''), a 2002 episode of an ...
where a small immediate
ransom
Ransom is the practice of holding a prisoner or item to extort money or property to secure their release, or the sum of money involved in such a practice.
When ransom means "payment", the word comes via Old French ''rançon'' from Latin ''re ...
is demanded, often by the victim being forced to withdraw money from their
ATM account.
Known in the United States since at least 1986, they are more commonly associated with urban areas of
Latin America
Latin America or
* french: Amérique Latine, link=no
* ht, Amerik Latin, link=no
* pt, América Latina, link=no, name=a, sometimes referred to as LatAm is a large cultural region in the Americas where Romance languages — languages derived ...
, such as
Mexico
Mexico (Spanish language, Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a List of sovereign states, country in the southern portion of North America. It is borders of Mexico, bordered to the north by the United States; to the so ...
,
Venezuela
Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many islands and islets in th ...
,
Peru
, image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg
, image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg
, other_symbol = Great Seal of the State
, other_symbol_type = National seal
, national_motto = "Firm and Happy f ...
,
Brazil
Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...
and
Colombia
Colombia (, ; ), officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country in South America with insular regions in North America—near Nicaragua's Caribbean coast—as well as in the Pacific Ocean. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the ...
. In some parts of Latin America, express kidnappings known as a millionaire tour (in
Spanish ''paseo millonario'') involve an innocent taxi cab passenger and a criminal driver, who stops to pick up associates. The passenger is taken to a variety of
ATMs, and forced to "max out" their
bank card at each.
This type of
kidnapping
In criminal law, kidnapping is the unlawful confinement of a person against their will, often including transportation/asportation. The asportation and abduction element is typically but not necessarily conducted by means of force or fear: the p ...
does not require much experience or preparation and is suspected of being committed by inexperienced
criminals more often than not.
References
External links
Colombia's fight to end violence BBC News, June 3, 2006
Entry 4 Silvana Paternostro, June 19, 2003
{{DEFAULTSORT:Express Kidnapping
Crime in Latin America
Kidnapping
Robbery