(This is not a need answer fast situation.)
It is something of a fiction and movie - and maybe even real life - trope for ransom kidnappers to threaten that any attempt by the abductee’s family to contact law enforcement will result in the victim being killed.
If the victim’s family *does *contact police, are police usually considerately discreet in the way they go about the investigation and manhunt - enough to make kidnappers think the cops weren’t notified - or are they usually a bull in a china shop?
Most large police departments have undercover units that can investigate near the criminals without being noticed. They don’t look like police but can do everything a regular police officer can do. They can blend into any city or neighborhood completely unnoticed.
They’re expected to act discreetly and intelligently, though of course in reality YMMV.
In 1999, there was a case here of a young office worker being kidnapped by a gang and extorted. His parents went to the police, but were given the brush-off and told their son’s disappearance wasn’t a police matter. After repeatedly going to the police to plead for help (as many as 9 times according to one report), the parents received a call from the kidnappers while they were with an officer. The officer took the phone and immediately identified himself as a policeman and told the kidnappers the police were now investigating. The gang killed the young man and dumped his body soon after.
FWIW, it was at least recognized that the police failed in their duties.
Aren’t kidnapping cases handled by the FBI, not local police? IIRC, the FBI were empowered by Federal legislation to take charge of kidnapping cases following the Lindbergh baby’s abduction in the 1930’s.
The FBI is authorized to investigate kidnapping cases but local law enforcement will also investigate and pursue kidnapping cases, often working with the FBI. See the case of Carlina White where the FBI worked with the NYPD to track down the woman accused of kidnapping Carlina as a baby. (She later turned herself in to the FBI.)
It’s worth noting that states can prosecute for kidnapping, in the Carlina White case the State of New York couldn’t prosecute because the statute of limitations ran out, so they turned it over to the Feds (who don’t have such a statute).
