Surviving a movable prison

This paper presents the experiences of thirteen people victimized by a crime called “sequestro relâmpago” in Brazil, somewhat similar to “secuestro exprés” in Venezuela. It is characterized as a type of kidnapping for robbery that has become part of Brazilian urban violence, also found in other countries in the Americas. The victims' post-event experiences, portrayed through their reports, point to significant physical-mental-social consequences to them and their families. The narratives show the existence of immediate repercussions to their lives – such as fear of retaliation, sleeplessness, immediate changes in routine, reality disconnection, remembrance and suffering renewal; and repercussions that last longer - such as damage to social life, an identity re-elaboration, widespread mistrust and hyper-vigilance. Fear becomes a persistent feeling expressed by these victimized persons, as part of their daily lives; everyone becomes a suspect, to the extent that a transformation occurs in the "way of looking at people."