On December 30, 2003, at approximately 7:45 am, a woman on her morning walk in an affluent section of Guatemala City was grabbed off the street and forced into a white sedan by at least two men. The assailants drove her around for several hours, demanding to know details about where she lived and who could pay for her release. The assailants ultimately took her to a secluded area of the city, where they severely beat and sexually assaulted her. She was then driven to a different, nearby, affluent area and released, without a ransom having been paid.

This event does not fit the pattern of targeted kidnappings (i.e., where the kidnappers know the victim or the family and are quickly ready to make ransom demands) seen previously in Guatemala City. The victim appears to have been randomly chosen. The Embassy, therefore, is alerting the American community to have a heightened awareness of this possible change in the pattern of, and escalation of violence in, kidnappings within the city and would like to remind Americans of the need for personal security awareness:

• Try not to walk alone; when possible walk in groups of at least two or three people;
• Walk with your dog;
• Avoid walking close to parked vans;
• Be aware of your surroundings at all times—including other people on the street, cars driving slowly through the neighborhood, people in cars parked for extended periods of time;
• Think ahead about possible escape routes along your normal course.

Should you or a member of your family be the victim of a crime, please contact the American Citizen Services section at the Embassy (334-8473; after hours 331-8904).

Para escuchar este mensaje en español, por favor, llame a 331-1541, extención 5087.