The 3 Phases of Kidnapping and How to Prepare Mentally
Jaycee Dugard described walking to the school bus stop on the day of a fifth-grade field trip and being zapped... View Article
View ArticleHow to Escape from Zip Ties
In our How To Escape and Evade in an Urban Environment article, we briefly discussed escaping from zip ties.
There are quite a few hasty methods of illegal restraint, and zip ties are a method that’s available to any would-be kidnapper.
A few of the other methods seen are duct tape, rope and phone cord, but with a little education you’ll see that all of these methods can easily be defeated.
There are two things you’ll need in any escape situation, and without these two things, nothing we’ll show you will work.
Those two things are time and opportunity. You’ll have to first have the time to be able to put one of these escape methods into action and the opportunity to do so.
Your captors are most likely not going to have the resources or the patience to keep eyes on you constantly, and when they don’t, it’s time to make your move.
How Zip Ties Work
The best way to defeat any type of restraint is to first analyze how it works.
Zip ties consist of a sturdy Nylon tape that contains small teeth running lengthwise down one side, and a ratchet with small teeth housed in a small open case.
The ratchet is molded to allow downward pressure to be placed upon it as the tape is threaded through the open case, then springing back up to position as the valleys of the tape align with the teeth of the ratchet, locking the zip tie.
At this point further forward movement will continue to tighten the zip tie, and backwards movement will lock it.
The particular zip ties we used in all our demonstrations were the most heavy-duty zip ties we could find at Lowes or Home Depot, the Zip Ties shown in the photo with a 175 lb. rating.
We chose these because realistically if someone was determined to go out and buy zip ties to use to illegally restrain someone, they’d likely hit the local hardware store and find the toughest ones they could.
To defeat zip ties, you can either completely break the zip ties, shim them, use a friction saw or with a little forward thinking just be able to slip right out of them.
Breaking Zip Ties
Breaking Zip Ties (Rear)
Shimming Zip Ties
Friction Sawing Zip Ties
Slipping Out of Zip Ties
Dual Zip Ties
Hand Positions
Now that we’ve gone over these four methods in detail in the videos, let’s talk briefly on how you’ll be bound, because it’s equally important as the method you choose to escape.
For an exercise, so that we’re all on the same page, put both of your hands straight out. Now touch your wrists together. This will be called “wrists together, horizontal.” This position is the easiest to escape from by slipping out.
Next rotate your wrists so your right hand turns clockwise, your left hand turns counterclockwise and your wrists touch. This will be called “wrists together, vertical.” This position is not preferred, but as shown on the breaking videos, can be defeated.
Now, from the “wrists together, vertical” position, rotate your hands so the backs of them touch together. This will be called “wrists together, inboard.” This is the hardest position out of the four, but can still be defeated by breaking.
The final way you could be bound is by crossing your hands at the wrists, making an X. This will be called “wrists together, crossed.” This position is a bit harder than the first for slipping out of, but it’s still possible.
Passive Victim
The first thing you should always do in any restraint situation, is remain passive.
Let your captor know that there’s no fight in you, that you’re scared and helpless. This will psychologically lead your captor to believe that you have no plans to try to escape, and thus make what we’re about to tell you easier.
You want to make every effort to present your hands to your captor before they use force to restrain you. Essentially you’re presenting the wrist position of your choosing to them, hoping they’ll use it.
Notes
Using the information we’ve provided to your advantage, you can put yourself in a better position to escape or determine which of the methods presented will work best in your circumstances.
We hope at the very least you watched the videos we’ve made, so you have the information stored somewhere in your mind, tucked away just in case you ever have to use it.
Let us know your thoughts and any questions you still have about escaping illegal restraints.
UPDATE 3/9/2010: We’ve just released this article explaining our position on the content of this article and why this information is important to get into the public, in the article we also talk about an important safety alert on a product called Jersey Cuffs. More Here.
Update 5/28/2010: Restraints we’re proud to endorse!
Are you getting more than 14¢ of value per day from ITS Tactical?
Please consider joining our Crew Leader Membership and our growing community of supporters.
At ITS Tactical we’re working hard every day to provide different methods, ideas and knowledge that could one day save your life. Instead of simply asking for your support with donations, we’ve developed a membership to allow our readers to support what we do and allow us to give you back something in return.
For less than 14¢ a day you can help contribute directly to our content, and join our growing community of supporters who have directly influenced what we’ve been able to accomplish and where we’re headed.
Click here to learn about all the benefits and Join!
250 comments
@Crashaxe There aren't any special drivers needed but there have been a few issues as we get the new site fully up and running. Are you on a computer that blocks YouTube videos or maybe Firefox? I recommend checking the post on a different browser or visiting the YouTube page in the mean time while we figure this out. --> How to Escape From Zip Ties
666 is given by isotope rays on wrist or forehead when people stretch hands to receive small plastic grey card (world passport). Police will chip and isotope ray people on highways. Food stores will isotope ray people too. Antichrist will also release prisoners to mark people. If you're about to be marked, scream: "Lord, have mercy!" three times. Don't go into a UFO to be healed by demons.
Great info. I'm going to practice these methods and replace my shoelaces with paracord. In these days this kind of information is invaluable to just about anyone. Thanks.
I don't see any videos - there's nothing there at all. do i have to be a member? I really need this information, please and thank you very much.
Hi Lupa, can you give us some more details on what you're seeing? The videos seem to be displaying correctly from here, is it possible that you're on a computer that blocks embedded YouTube videos? As a last resort you can always navigate over to our YouTube channel to view the videos as well. http://www.youtube.com/user/itstactical Thanks!
@Bryan Black 'Couple of observations. First, Firefox v22, Linux/Fedora 17, no video player. Second, the HTML you're using allocates a space for the video and points to the source. I'm no expert, but I think you need to do more. At a guess, I'd speculate that the code is using a browser-specific feature for your browser. An easy fix would be to encode a link to the YouTube file and forget about the box.
Nice, Thanks- I have not searched yet, but what what would SOP's be for being bound hand and foot?
Great info I go to night classes in a very busy city and not good busy..... feel a little better after some practice
You know I'm not here to rain on anyones parade but as an Air Force cop the zip ties we use are a lot thicker and more heavy duty. Doubt you could break them as easily, not saying it is impossible but saying they are a lot stronger.
Teddy, the point of sharing this content and methods are for escaping illegal restraint, not for Military or Law Enforcement specific designs.
Great techniques guys, however, the police and military issued ziptie handcuffs are NOT same as storebought zipties. They have dual mechanism designed for handcuffing.
you have shown em before, but you do not mention this in anywhere, that these techniques does not liberate you from US military or police. lol
What about the tactical zip ties that police use? Civilians can purchase these from any company that supplies them to police officers such as galls.com. Say you have a smarty pants criminal that purchases these beforehand.
P.S. Just for the record, I have never been in, nor plan to be in trouble with the law where I would be in the situation of having to get out of their zip ties. :-P
What about these http://bestsurvivaldeals.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/zip-tie-cuffs.gif
can you get out of those ?
Pretty neat with the videos you got !
Is there a way to use the long piece of the zip tie to shim your way out of it?
Like it your hands are bound to the front, could you just use the end piece to shim out?
I wish I could hear the name of the site for the metal shim. Sounds like shear-pic or whatever, but I have tried all spellings and can not find it.
the one were you broke out of the 2 zip ties you used the other bit you broke of to shim could you not fold over the unbroken zip tie and shm out anyway ?
You can also chew the plastic square on the zip tie and it will release the lock if you distort it enough. I would only do this in an emergency though it might break your teeth.
Hey guys! Thank you so much for doing this!! The only thing I was wondering.......can a girl still do all those things? Whoever demonstrated it was a strong looking guy, so would a girl still be able to break them? Thanks again!
I think the advice was great! Very helpful. Although, what if the bad guy tied you to a chair with zip ties?
Not sure i agree with the advice to remain passive if you have not yet been restrained. Might be appropriate for some situations but not a great blanket statement. Sometimes it's best to fight with all your might, once they have you your chances if survival decrease.
Thank you for the great information, and very well done videos. I feel much better knowing that if I were in a restrained situation there is actually a way out.
Thank you so much for this information. I feel so much safer knowing this information being prepared for the unfortunate. Again thank you!
this is great if you ever get kidnapped...but, unfortunately, criminals will use this to their advantage when they are restrained.
I raise my glass to you; you are true gentlemen. Thanks for helping this college girl feel safer!
I just wanted to thank you for these videos. I feel better prepared if something were to ever happen. You guys are awesome and so is your website. I found you on Pinterest.
just wondering for the first and last video could you do that on like your leg if you had to??
Thank you Guys for this awesome tutorials - as a girl this could be really helpful (even if it's just teasing on a festival ;) )...I always thought you just get out of them by cutting!
Thanks for this. I'm a little thing, and have been trying to bulk up on my self-defense knowledge and loved running across this on Pinterest just in case I ever do need it. The only down side is providing a link to stronger ones at the bottom... makes me feel a little less safe, but then again nice to know if I am cuffed with those I should not try and break them as I might break my wrists.
Thank you for sharing these most informative videos. Well done and well presented. Found your link in Pinterest.
Always the simplist, cheapest part....... for shimming just use the other end of the zip tie. ;)
fold the end into the hole, force it in and you're done.
Great information to have. Thank you. What about if each wrist is zip-tied to the arms of a chair? Is there a way to defeat the zip tie in that situation? Thanks.
Thank you so much for this information. My daughter and her best friend plan on moving out and to another state to finish school. It scares me to death to think of them alone in another state. At least they will have some knowledge as to what to do if anything happens. (God Forbid).
Can you find a way to escape if they zipped your feet together that would totally rock so just in case that happens were prepared #awesomeness #cool #ITS Tactical #ITS Awesome
It's really nice of you guys to take the time to make these videos. They're very informative, with nice instructions.
I keep one key device with me at all times to help me with this scenario, and a second back up if I feel I'm going to be in a high-likely detainment scenario. The first is a lock pick made from a hacksaw blade that maintains the cutting edge I keep in my wallet or in the lining of my belt through a break I made in the stitching. The second, for those "poop is about to get real" moments is a small pair of nail clippers. They're super effective ;)
Hello, I've had two experiences of coming close to being kidnapped one was as a child I was followed at target in Orlando, Florida I managed to find my mom and left but later that day the man who was following me ended up showing up to the street I live and stopped my car when he saw my dad he just left and never came back. The other horrid experience was in South Texas I was at kmart in the bedding section as a older teen and a man was just starring and following me the whole time. I noticed and I ran out the door I managed to get in my vehicle and race to my dads office as well I called the police on the way as he was following me with his vehicle and he was later arrested. When they searched his vehicle they found duck tape, gasoline, knives, lighter, etc. It would be great if you guys know how, to do a video on how to take or rip of duck tape of your wrist and ankles. Thank you again for this video, great information to know and to practice in case of.
