International Executive Security Monitor

Women are statistically of equal threat to men for expatriate hijacking

International Kidnap and Ransom events often take the form of an auto hijacking or international carjacking.  A good kidnap and ransom insurance policy will cover this threat if someone is actually kidnapped as part of the hijacking.  However, many of these hijackings will be temporary and the victim may only be held for several hours perhaps to withdraw money or while credit cards are used.  Some kidnap and ransom insurance policies will not cover this event unless express kidnap is covered.

Here is some general information about this risk, useful to almost every expatriate abroad.

If possible, always drive with another person and hijackers favor lone drivers.  There are no statistics to show that men are more immune to international hijacking then women.  Also, most hijackings will occur within 10 miles of the victim’s home.

Always have the emergency numbers for your country programmed into your phone for speed dial, along with the number your employer has given for you to call in an emergency (in addition to the “local 911″ number for that country.)  Hijackers rarely work alone and the biggest threats to expatriates are the following:

1. Just when you are entering your car (have keys ready)
2. Just when you are getting out of the car
3. Stopped, but running vehicles
4. Slow moving vehicles with windows down and doors unlocked.
5. Be wary of traps too, like an injured child lying across the road.

In a dangerous area avoid stopping too close to the vehicle in front of you, because if a car comes up behind you it leaves you with nowhere to go and trapped.   Always have a mental plan prepared in advance.  For example, always know where you should drive to in an emergency if you are being followed.  Preparation and mental preparedness can be the difference between getting away and a kidnap and ransom event.