kidnapping
n. C / Un. the crime of taking someone away by force and keeping them as a prisoner. This is usually done to get money from their family or to achieve a political goal.
n. the illegal act of abducting and holding a person against their will, typically to extract a ransom or for political leverage.
The police are investigating a kidnapping in the city center.
The wealthy businessman hired private security after a kidnapping attempt was reported in his neighborhood.
International law enforcement agencies collaborated to dismantle the network responsible for the kidnapping of several journalists, highlighting the increasing risks faced by reporters in conflict zones.
Uncountable when referring to the crime in general; countable when referring to a specific instance of the act.