Kidnap avoidance at home and abroad.

Executives and wealthy individuals have always been prime kidnap targets because their safe return to their families and organizations can lead to handsome rewards for those involved in their abduction. Lately, more high profile kidnapping and missing person stories have permeated the news--both in the United States and throughout the world.

When an executive is kidnapped, his or her family, friends and loved ones typically agonize over the fact that they simply didn't see the incident coming or take the necessary steps to reduce risk.

"Being prepared is always the best defense against being kidnapped," says Tom Clayton, kidnap expert and founder of Southern California based Thomas A. Clayton Consultants Inc. Clayton's company provides corporations and individuals with risk assessment, training and crisis management on a global level.

"To illustrate the importance of preparation," said Clayton, "we have trained many 'high risk' executives who have lived in the most dangerous kidnap locations and countries in the world. The K&R (kidnap and ransom) insurance clients that we train and brief do not get kidnapped--even when the odds have been stacked against them."

Still, not everyone is able to receive training before they become a target--and for those individuals, there a number of factors that they can employ in their everyday lifestyles that can help reduce risk.

Though not intended as a thorough cure-all for kidnap avoidance, (only comprehensive pre-incident training and debriefing programs can accomplish that), the list of basic tips compiled below are tactics shared by Tom Clayton that any senior executive should be aware of to lessen the odds of a kidnapping incident directly affecting him or her.

* BE ALERT. Always be watchful and aware of what is going on around you. Look up and down your street every morning a half hour before you leave for work in the morning. Look around as you drive your car down the street to see if someone standing in the street is observing you. If there's a stranger on your street--assess the situation to consider if he is observing you.

* TAKE ACTION. Too often, when individuals see someone suspicious, they don't react because "they're not following me. I've seen too many movies." Whenever you see someone even remotely suspicious, it is crucial that you take action. If that stranger mentioned above appears on your street twice or more, don't just worry about it--call the police and ask them to check on the person parked near your home.

* KEEP A LOW PROFILE. As much as possible, try to stay out of newspapers and television news reports, especially if you are living and/or working away from home. Being as anonymous as possible will make you less likely a target.

* RANDOMIZE YOUR ROUTINE. Don't always leave your home and arrive at work at the same time. If it is imperative you be at work by 9:00 a.m. each day, arrive one day at 8:30, another at 9:00 one day at 7:00, and never follow a pattern. Also, randomize the routes that you follow each morning from your home to the office.

* MAKE THE SITUATION KNOWN. If you are in your car and someone seems to be following you, stop in front of a policeman, or an armed guard at a bank, or any area where a large group of people are gathered. Point at the car that's following you and shout loudly, "That person is following me!" If the individual was planning an abduction, you will be considered too alert and will likely be crossed of their list of targets.

* KNOW YOUR AREA. Whatever your routes are to work, to your children's school, etc., be sure to know all the local "safe havens." Police stations, places where police frequent, banks, officials' homes with armed guards and the like are areas you should always be prepared to go immediately if something suspicious is taking place or if you are being followed.

* LET THEM KNOW YOU ARE "ON TO THEM." If someone has been observing you from a car parked outside your home, have someone, preferably a house guard or perhaps a gardener go outside with a camera and let the driver see him taking a photo of the car and ostentatiously writing down a license number on a piece of paper.

* EQUIP YOUR CAR FOR CRISIS. Drive vehicle that is not over-the-top glamorous, and be sure that it is equipped with alarms, including an alarm button that can be activated from the inside. Keep the car in good shape and the gas tank always at least half full.

* DRIVE DEFENSIVELY. Always drive with your windows and doors locked. Know your car's limitations should you be suddenly thrust into a crisis situation. One way to do this is to take a course in defensive driving.

* MAKE NOTES. Always make notes of the physical appearance of the street cleaner, shoeshine person or newspaper vendor who suddenly appears near your home.

According to Clayton, these are practices that any executive or high-worth individual a can and should apply anywhere in the world. He warns that performing these precautionary tasks can't guarantee your safety, but they can dramatically enhance your odds of avoiding some kind of crisis scenario.

Corinne Novato is a freelance writer covering the insurance industry.