reality comments on
99.9% of the foreign posters on this website should have no concern because the criminals and kidnappers are only interested in people of wealth that can pay their demands. Almost all of you are not even on their radar screen as they are not going to kidnap a foreign person for a few hundred US$ when they can kidnap wealthy Colombia's more easily for a whole lot more.
I can speak from a little experience as I was one of the targets of a kidnapping ring that was caught by the Gaula. I was contacted by the Gaula and told of the plot two days before the planned abduction. The kidnappers and tippster were arrested one week later with one being killed in the process. I didn't return to Colombia for one year. Two hostages were freed during the raid.
In late December of 2005 I was the target of armed robbery and perhaps kidnpping in one of my homes in country adjoining Colombia. This attack missed me by two days but caught my secretary at my home during which her hands were bound by plastic straps and a gun was put to her head demanding the "money".
Luckly she had called the security guard to alert him of an unexpected (not announced) delivery for me to the door. Because of the call she made to security a maintainance person was sent to investigate and began ringing the doorbell which scared in intruders off. Within 15 minutes the place was swarming with police responding to the situation. We now have security cameras and audio with beefed up security procedures.
Cali, Colombia is by far more dangerous than any other major city in Colombia but not for typical PBH foreign poster but rather for a wealthy Colombia that is targeted or may have pissed someone off.
PBH foreign posters might fear being separated from their possessions but not their life. Using good judgment will even reduce that exposure. Never receive, handle or make payments of large sums of any currency for any reason (just common sense) and more important than anything learn to keep your big mouth shut about financial matters of any kind.
