In the wake of Kim Kardashian’s robbery in Paris, October 3, Chris Hagon was interviewed as an international security expert on issues regarding celebrities or VIPs and executive travel security. Anyone who travels should take security seriously, and famous, wealthy or important people – unfortunately – need to be even more vigilant as their status can make them an appealing target for attackers.
Chris was quoted in the following articles –
- Kim Kardashian West’s Lavish Social Media Posts Made Her a Robbery Target: Security Expert – “Obviously she can’t be low-profile where she’s staying if she’s advertising what she’s doing and advertising her wealth,” Christopher Hagon, a managing partner at Incident Management Group, a Florida-based international security consulting firm, tells PEOPLE.
- Kim Kardashian West’s Bodyguard Was ‘Unprofessional’ Before Robbery, Says Security Expert – “Someone should have been outside the room. Someone should be monitoring the threat. Someone should have noticed any possible surveillance,” Christopher Hagon, a managing partner at Incident Management Group, a Florida-based international security consulting firm, tells PEOPLE.
Photo credit: Moyan_Brenn via Foter.com / CC BY - Kim Kardashian West’s Robbers Likely Posed as Paparazzi Before Attack – “She’s surrounded by paparazzi, any of whom could have given this information to others for a fee,” Christopher Hagon, a managing partner at Incident Management Group, a Florida-based international security consulting firm, tells PEOPLE.
Our hearts go out to Kim Kardashian, of course, after this very frightening event. That said, for those working with international travel security and executive security for anyone on the continua of fame, fortune, and political power – this incident is a good “wake up” to audit their security practices and tighten up security. Among the take-aways are that the security team and the VIP need to work together, with an acceptance of the need for security and the trade-offs between a “public” lifestyle and executive security. It seems apparent from the known facts that the concept of protective physical, technical, and procedural “barriers” designed to place a “distance” between the victim and any possible threat were not enacted. Secondly, efforts can and should be made to randomize itineraries and habits so that it makes it more difficult for attackers to know where and when a VIP will be vulnerable. Not having a completely stable, transparent routine is one of the better defenses against these sorts of problems. Third, efforts can be made to control the release of gratuitous information as well as counter surveillance and intelligence gathering measures that could have provided an indication of impending criminal action.
If you or your staff are interested in an executive security audit, please reach out.
Photo credit: Moyan_Brenn via Foter.com / CC BY