"Express Kidnappings" On The Rise Again
By Luis Carlos Rodríguez for La Critica - Express kidnappings are on the rise again. This time the victims were two businessmen who own businesses in San Francisco and Rio Abajo. At 11:45 pm on Thursday evening the two men were traveling in the car of a friend on 47th Street near the intersection with Calle Uruguay in Bella Vista when they were intercepted by several assailants who were traveling in a white Nissan Almera. The armed delinquents forced their way into the Land Cruiser that was being driven by a man named Martinez, and forced the two businessmen to get out of the car. Once they were taken into the custody of the kidnappers their car took off in an unknown direction. Witnesses managed to capture the last four digits of the license plate of the car - 6653. After taking several laps around the city, the assailants released their semi naked victims at 5:25 am at dawn on Friday morning on the Southern Corridor near the bridge over the Juan Diaz river, and headed out of the city. The owner of the restaurant in San Francisco was robbed of $80 dollars in cash, a credit card, and a watch worth $800 dollars. The other victim, who owns a pharmacy in Rio Abajo, was robbed of $200 in cash as well as a watch worth $500 dollars. When they were released the victims managed to flag down a police patrol car that was passing the area of the Southern Corridor. "Express Kidnapping" is a style of robbery in which the victims are temporarily deprived of their freedom while they are being robbed. Normally, the assailants undress their victims and leave them semi-naked on the side of the road once they have their cash, valuables, and credit cards. To keep from becoming a victim people should remain aware when they are approaching their vehicles, when parking or arriving at their destinations, to be alert for anyone who might be following them, and to avoid poorly lit areas. Editor's Comment: Heads up to this one. The "express kidnapping" was in style about a year ago, and then it dropped off of the radar. This was a relatively brazen kidnapping, taking two guys out of a car at gunpoint in the middle of the city along Calle Uruguay in Bella Vista. It just goes to show you - crime can happen anywhere in Panama. If you find yourself in this situation just go with the flow, give them everything, and just worry about getting out of there alive. Chances are that before too long you will find yourself walking partially dressed along the Southern Corridor - no worse for wear. And of course, pay attention, heighten your level of personal security, make yourself the hardest target, don't carry large amounts of cash or wear flashy jewelry, etc. From the sounds of things, these two guys were targeted for the watches.
DELINCUENCIA: ROBAN EFECTIVO Y BIENES A COMERCIANTES
Reactivan el "Secuestro Express"
Luis Carlos Rodríguez | Crítica en Línea
Las víctimas fueron dejados en el Corredor Sur, a la altura del río Juan Díaz. (Foto: Archivo / EPASA)
El secuestro express vuelve al ataque, y esta vez sus nuevas víctimas fueron dos empresarios dueños de comercios en los corregimientos de San Francisco y Río Abajo.
El hecho se dio a las 11: 45 de la noche del jueves, cuando dos comerciantes que viajaban en un auto de un amigo por la Calle 47 y Uruguay, en Bella Vista, fueron interceptados por varios sujetos que viajaban en un vehículo Nissan Almera, color blanco.
Los delincuentes con armas en mano, se introdujeron al auto Toyota Land Cruiser conducido por un hombre de apellido Martínez, obligando a bajar a los dos comerciantes.
Una vez cometida la privación de libertad, el auto partió con rumbo desconocido.
Testigos del hecho lograron anotar los últimos cuatro dígitos de la placa del auto, que eran 6653.
Tras dar varias vueltas por la ciudad, los delincuentes liberaron a sus víctimas semi desnudas a las 5: 25 de la madrugada del viernes, la altura del Corredor Sur, próximo al puente sobre el río Juan Díaz, con dirección a las afueras de la ciudad.
Al propietario del restaurante ubicado en el corregimiento de San Francisco lo despojaron de 80 dólares en efectivo, una tarjeta de crédito, así como de un reloj Takina, cuyo costo supera los 800 dólares.
A la otra víctima, que es propietario de una farmacia en el corregimiento de Río Abajo, lograron llevarle 200 dólares en efectivo, además de un reloj marca Time, cuyo costo es de 500 dólares.
Tras ser liberados, los afectados fueron divisados por un patrulla de la Policía Nacional que pasaba por la vía rápida.
El 'Secuestro Express' es una modalidad delictiva en el que las víctimas son privados de su libertad de forma temporal para luego despojarlos de sus bienes.
Por lo regular, a las víctimas los despojan del dinero que tengan en sus tarjetas de crédito, así como del efectivo y otros valores que puedan tener.
Para evitar ser víctima de esa modalidad delictiva, las personas deben estar atentas cuando abordan sus vehículos, al estacionarse o llegar a sus casas. Estar pendientes de si alguien los sigue, y en caso de ser así, no cambiar lugares abiertos por cerrados.
