Five men are in custody in Florida for kidnapping a family on a fake mechanical order.

Five individuals, including three minors, were arrested in La Florida following their alleged involvement in the kidnapping of a married couple and their two children. The incident occurred after the victims were lured into a trap using a fabricated mechanical service request. According to police reports, the ordeal began late Friday afternoon in the commune of Maipú, where a mechanic was summoned to perform work on a vehicle. The contact had been arranged through a social media page used by the victim to offer his services. Upon arriving at the location with his family, they were confronted and threatened by five suspects who demanded information about the family's home address. The goal, as stated by law enforcement, was to move to the residence to steal money and other valuables. The suspects forced the victims to accompany them to the house located in La Florida. However, during the journey, one of the captives managed to alert a neighbor about the situation. “A victim, acting promptly, managed to notify a neighbor, who quickly contacted personnel from the Los Quillayes Substation,” explained Colonel Ignacio Toledo, prefect of the Santiago Cordillera Police Prefecture. The officers arrived at the residence and waited for the vehicles to arrive. Once the cars reached the scene, the police intervened and detained all five suspects. The suspects attempted to flee but were caught by the officers. All four victims were found alive. During the operation, police seized one firearm, another airsoft gun, and an extended magazine containing 27 nine-millimeter cartridges. The second weapon will undergo forensic analysis to determine its characteristics and whether it was capable of firing. The two adults arrested are aged 36 and 19 years old. According to Colonel Toledo, both have prior records related to receiving stolen motor vehicles. The minors' backgrounds include cases involving drug possession. Authorities are investigating whether this group has previously committed similar crimes. “It is under investigation whether they might have committed other crimes of similar nature,” stated the prefect. This case marks the first instance detected using this specific method, according to Colonel Toledo. He urged people offering products or services via social networks to verify the identity and intentions of those contacting them beforehand, and to avoid providing information about their homes, belongings, or possessions. The five detainees appeared before a detention hearing on Saturday for charges of kidnapping and illegal possession of firearms.