express kidnapping

{{Short description|Abduction where a small immediate ransom is demanded}}

{{for|the Venezuelan film|Secuestro Express}}{{Kidnapping}}

Express kidnapping ({{langx|es|secuestro exprés}}; {{langx|pt|sequestro relâmpago}}) is a method of abduction where a small immediate ransom is demanded, often by the victim being forced to withdraw money from their ATM account.{{cite news |url=http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/express-kidnappings-on-the-rise-in-panama |title=Express kidnappings on the rise in Panama |date=November 28, 2010}}

Known in the United States since at least 1986,{{cite journal |title=US Congressional Record |date=July 30, 1986 |pages=18232}} they are more commonly associated with urban areas of Latin America, such as Mexico, Venezuela, Peru, Brazil and Colombia.{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/08/19/1029114079734.html |title=Express kidnapping a way of life |work=The Telegraph |publisher=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=August 20, 2002}} 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.[https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2009/08/twin-cities/24124/ "Twin Cities"], 2009, The Atlantic

This type of kidnapping does not require much experience or preparation and is suspected of being committed by inexperienced criminals more often than not.{{Cite journal|last1=Stubbert|first1=Christopher H.|last2=Pires|first2=Stephen F.|last3=Guerette|first3=Rob T.|date=2015-09-24|title=Crime science and crime epidemics in developing countries: a reflection on kidnapping for ransom in Colombia, South America|journal=Crime Science|volume=4|issue=1|doi=10.1186/s40163-015-0034-5|issn=2193-7680|doi-access=free}}