Quito Ecuador: U.S. tourist victim of Kidnap Express in Mariscal tourist zone

On March 15, 2013, a U.S. tourist was assaulted in a commission of a kidnap express. The victim was out for the evening with a date and took a taxi at about 9:00 PM from Mariscal Sucre about a block from plaza foche. After driving for for about five minutes the taxi stopped, at which time two assailants opened the doors of the taxi and jumped inside the vehicle. One of the robbers displayed a knife and the other had a gun. The bandits sat on the victims and one sprayed what is believed to be pepper spray on the U.S. tourist. The driver sped to a remote location. The thief on top of the American went through his pockets and took his watch. The American blinded by the spray indicated the men sexually assaulted his date and after about twenty minutes dropped the two victims off and the assailants also left the vehicle. The tourist also provided the robbers with his ATM pin number. The female victim ran to the nearest house where the occupant allowed them to phone police who arrived and took a report. The U.S. tourist did not indicate if the taxi driver made any phone calls or was texting during the ride. The victim believes that the taxi driver was working with the assailants.