One of the most popular locations to visit during Spring Break is now one of the most dangerous locations to visit for US citizens. Everyone knows not to drink the water in Mexico, but that is not the biggest threat in Mexico these days. In 2009 Mexico passed Colombia as the most dangerous country in the world for Kidnappings.

**Kidnappings can be either weeks or months long or “express kidnappings.” Express kidnappings have become very common in Mexico. The type of event is many times carried out by taxi drivers who will pick up wealthy or foreign looking individuals, drive them to an ATM, at gun point, demand that the passengers withdraw funds then travel to another ATM and do the same thing prior to releasing the passengers (hopefully unharmed). **

Petersen International provides a Kidnap & Ransom policy for both personal/family or business/corporate uses. The Kidnap & Ransom policy provides for a number of key benefits. The two main benefits are:

1. Ransom indemnification. If an insured person is kidnapped and a ransom is paid, the policy will reimburse the policy owner up to the policy limits.
2. Unlimited fees for a crisis response team. If an insured person is kidnapped, the first thing one should do is call the crisis response team which employs specialists located around the world. People need the expertise of the crisis response team to properly react to all the elements involved in a positive outcome to the kidnapping.

Petersen International Underwriters is long experienced in this specialized field. We have two highly respected underwriters who deal in this arena. The coverage is not expensive and is well worth the investment to help gain the safe release of the victims.