According to figures from Unase, there have been 81 express kidnappings this year in Zone 8. In recent weeks the cases have increased.
Two women were victims of express kidnappings days ago in Guayaquil. They ordered a taxi through a mobile application. They boarded the Malecón Simón Bolívar and later two men got on and robbed them and threatened them with a weapon. In an attempt to jump out of the car, one was hit and shot in the left leg.
The criminals used a rubber weapon, so the bullet did not do so much damage, however, the intervention of the paramedics was necessary and they transferred her to a medical home. The women were abandoned in the Watercolor del Río citadel, in the north of Guayaquil, where the residents helped them.
Now the Police are looking for the suspects through the data entered in the mobile application.
Several cases have been reported in recent weeks, although not all victims come to the Prosecutor’s Office to file a complaint. From January 1 to December 14, 81 express kidnappings were reported in Zone 8, figures from the Anti-Kidnapping and Extortion Unit (Unase) reveal.
There are several applications that offer a “safe” taxi service, and taxi ranks where one can supposedly access a cooperative unit that is monitored, however, in recent weeks on social networks there have been cases of express kidnappings apparently committed on these vehicles.
Victims point to drivers as accomplices and warn, especially on Twitter, not to download this or that app or not to take a taxi at a shopping center stop.
Nancy M., a young lawyer, was a victim of this crime days ago in Guayaquil. He tells that he requested a taxi in an application that has been operating in Ecuador since this year and that he has used it several times without incident. Further from her starting point, two men got into the car and threatened her. There began a “horror walk” for the young woman that lasted about two hours.
“They took me up to the rings,” said the lawyer on her Twitter account, where she explained that the criminals told her that they had taken a photo of her credential to have her data and recognize it in case she filed a complaint.
Despite this extortion, she denounced the case the same day and began to tell her story on the networks. She even assures that the same criminals who robbed her attacked another young woman and her mother that day, who took a taxi in the same area where they got off after assaulting her.
“To top it off, the thieves told me: ‘Flaca, don’t go out, the street is hard. Stay at home ‘”, they are poor and sad (…)”, said the robbery victim. She tagged the nation’s attorney general, Diana Salazar, on Twitter demanding speed in the investigation.
Another similar case occurred the day before Nancy’s when a middle-aged man named Pablo J. took a taxi on 9 de Octubre Avenue. His daughter indignantly told her story on Twitter and asked to improve the controls.
He took a yellow taxi at 20:00 to go home. Later, two men got on and stole everything and forced him to empty his savings account.
The same thing happened to Íngrid R. a month ago. She left at 10pm from a La Puntilla shopping center and took a “pirate” drive. She was assaulted by men who got on later, shortly before reaching the Terrestrial Terminal. She went home and preferred not to report the case.
recommendations
An agent from Unase advises taking a photo of the unit and the license plate before getting on to send it to a family member. “If you go alone, it is best to sit next to the driver,” he says. In addition, it is recommended to check if the child lock is activated that prevents opening the door and lowering the glass to call for help.
If they are going to try to break glass, they must hit the ends. In the center it is very strong and it will not be easy.
The agent recommends activating the SOS message on cell phones, an application available on all phones since 2013 that allows us to notify three family members and the ECU911 that we are in danger.
“Family members receive photos, audio recording and location immediately”, thus we have rescued many people, indicates an agent. (I)
Mario Twitchell is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his insightful and thought-provoking writing on a wide range of topics including general and opinion. He currently works as a writer at 247 news agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
