Tiger Kidnap: Case Study Two
Raid on Securitas Depot Tonbridge Kent 22nd February 2006
 
The abduction of Colin Dixon (the Manager of the Securitas depot, Tonbridge) and his family was a classic example of what is known in the security industry as a “tiger kidnapping”.

The term comes from the fact that the criminals mimic the predators by stalking their victims before pouncing.

Colin Dixon, was the weak link. This was not due to any inherent flaw in his character but simply because he knew the most about how the depot worked, and was vulnerable because he was a family man who cared for his wife and children. So the robbers set about researching Mr. Dixon. What did he look like? what car did he drive? Where did he live? What route did he take to and from work?

The answers to the first two questions might have been provided by the inside man, Ermir Hysenaj, but there was also evidence that the gang did extensive research into Mr. Dixon and conducted exhaustive surveillance of the family home in Herne Bay in the days before the raid.

On the night of 21 February 2006, their homework completed, they sprang their trap.

Mr. Dixon was stopped on a quiet country road halfway between the depot and Herne Bay by two men posing as police officers.

They overpowered him and drove him to the farm near Staplehurst which the robbers were using as a base.

The pair then drove to Hearne Bay and used the same ruse to gain entry to the Dixon family home before abducting Mr. Dixons’ wife, Lynn and one of their children.

Knowing that his family was being held hostage, Mr. Dixon was forced to help the robbers gain access to the depot.

“We were given a card with an 0800 telephone number on it, and were told if we were kidnapped we should ring that number, which I thought was a bit strange”.

Mr. John O’Conner, former head of the flying squad had this to say, “Staff are the only vulnerability they have, with the alarm systems and security measures. No-one’s likely to get through just using sawn-off shotguns”

He adds “It is very hard to combat tiger kidnappings. If someone’s family has been kidnapped they will do anything they can to persuade their colleagues to come in and help them”.