AP Television

Mexico City, Mexico - 28 April 2014

1. Mid of worker grinding metal at an armoured vehicle shop on the outskirts of Mexico City

2. Tilt down of metal grinding and sparks

3. Various of worker cutting Kevlar, a synthetic, protective fibre

4. Pan right of workshop where vehicles are being armoured

5. Tracking shot of Fernando Echeverri, President of the Mexican Association of Armoured Vehicles (Amba), walking through workshop

6. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Fernando Echeverri, President, Mexican Association of Armoured Vehicles (Amba):

"Today, armouring is focused on protecting the cabin. Nowadays, people don't really look for that amount of accessories that were used before. If we take a look back from years ago, cars were equipped with pepper spray and tear gas, sirens, speakers, brass tacks, oil dumping devices, etc., a little like James Bond. Those things are not very practical."

7. Wide of armoured vehicle shop

8. Mid of worker installing "Run Flat" accessory on tyre, device used to make tyres bullet-proof

9. Tilt down of worker installing bullet-proof accessories inside vehicle

10. Close of powered bullet-proof window

AP Television

Mexico City, Mexico - 30 April 2014

11. Close of security camera sign

12. Tilt down of Avanti Medical Center, a medical clinic, exterior

13. Close of security camera outside clinic

14. Mid of Alejandro Avila, Surgeon, checking CCTV monitors for activity outside his practice

15. Close of Avila holding remote control with screens in background

16. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Alejandro Avila, Surgeon:

"We have different types of security systems. One is at the local level, in our businesses with different cameras that move, others when motion is detected. In a personal way, my family and I, we use GPS trackers within us, so we can be contactable at all times, not only by ours phones, but with other locators that have been implanted."

17. Wide of workers inside Sky World's master control office, a GPS monitoring company

18. Close of computer screen showing monitoring clients' activity through GPS

19. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Rodolfo Lobo, Chief Executive Officer, Sky World:

"The technological side has evolved rapidly. Year after year, we have new equipment. Basically what we have integrated this year, for example, are alarm systems with video monitoring systems. Through notifications by cameras or smart recorders, we're able to have a very efficient operation that manages to have in a very accurate and fast method, any event that could be generating either in homes or offices."

20. Mid of staff monitoring GPS activity

21. Close pan right of screen measuring gas and location of client (truck transportation service)

22. Various close shots of CCTV screens

23. Low shot of security camera

24. Wide of a Mexico City street where several security cameras are used

25. Wide of Oscar Loaiza, Commercial Director for bullet-proof clothing designer Miguel Caballero, looking at clothing

26. Tilt down of bullet-proof undershirt on display

27. Tracking shot of Loaiza holding undershirt

UPSOUND (Spanish): "It's our most sold garment in Mexico. It weights around 800 grams (1.7 pounds) to 1.2 kilos (2.6 pounds) depending on size."

28. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Oscar Loaiza, Miguel Caballero's Commercial Director:

"In Colombia, (people) still talk about the possible danger, Despite that, we have overcome a very difficult time in Colombia and today, I'm not saying that nothing happens, but things have changed. (Unfortunately) people stay with that stigma of how Colombia was back then. That stigma somehow has moved to Mexico."

29. Various of Loaiza showing a women's bullet-proof jacket

UPSOUND (Spanish): "It's one of the most liked garments in Mexico."

30. Various of mannequins displaying tactical gear and bullet-proof clothing

31. Wide of people walking on Mexico City street

32. Wide of Mexico City's Independence Angel monument

LEADIN

Officials in Mexico have pledged to swiftly reduce the amount of crime which affects many ordinary citizens.

But a surge in kidnappings reported in 2013 has caused many to look for alternatives.

Now, a range of suppliers are offering fearful Mexico City residents a selection of products to ensure security and peace of mind.

This is one of thousands of cars becoming bulletproof in Mexico.

Business is booming for the Mexican Association of Armored Vehicles (Amba).

They've recently reported sales in the thousands for their armoured vehicles.

Here, cars are made bullet-proof by being stripped down, then fitted with custom-made plastic panels, bullet-proof tyres and fabrics, and steel plates.

According to president, Fernando Echeverri, today people want their armoured vehicles to have a lower profile and be more practical.

"Today, armouring is focused on protecting the cabin," he says.

"Nowadays, people don't really look for that amount of accessories that were used before. If we take a look back from years ago, cars were equipped with pepper spray and tear gas, sirens, speakers, brass tacks, oil dumping devices, etc., a little like James Bond. Those things are not very practical."

Surgeon Alejandro Avila is one of many taking steps to ensure his own security.

When members of organised cartels first approached him for protection money for two of his 20 medical clinics across Mexico, the surgeon first agreed to pay $30,000 a month.

But then came a hike, and the abrupt departure from the country of one of his managers, after receiving death threats.

Avila then decided to close two of his clinics in the northern part of Mexico City, and seek alternative methods of security for his family and business.

Here, Avila can monitor activity at all his clinics.

But the surgeon hasn't stopped there.

Worried by soaring kidnapping rates and his strained relation with cartels, Avila has opted for a microchip implant planted under his skin.

That means satellites can find him even if he's been stuffed into the boot of a car.

"We have different types of security systems," he says.

"One is at the local level, in our businesses with different cameras that move, others when motion is detected. In a personal way, my family and I, we use GPS trackers within us, so we can be contactable at all times, not only by ours phones, but with other locators that have been implanted."

It may seem far-fetched, but kidnapping in the country has recently risen to epidemic levels with some officials calling a national emergency.

Mexico officials in January launched a nationwide effort to fight the crime.

The spike is thought to be a direct result of the country's crackdown on organised crime.

In 2013, Mexico and the U.S. touted the arrests of drug lords ('Capos' in Spanish) and said organised crime-related murders were down, but reported that kidnappings had hit a 16-year high.

Official figures say Mexicans reported 1,695 kidnappings during 2013, a 20 percent increase over 2012.

But experts estimate more than 90 percent of kidnappings go unreported.

The country's National Institute of Statistics has said based on extrapolations from reported cases that the number of kidnappings in the first nine months of 2013 could exceed 105,000.

This wave of kidnappings presents an opportunity for Rodolfo Lobo.

Lobo leads Sky World, a Mexican satellite tracking company.

They offer satellite tracking and video surveillance, crisis support, and even reservation assistance for hotels and restaurants.

Here, Sky World monitors client positions around the clock, gasoline levels on vehicles and works with federal police as private security agents across the country.

"The technological side has evolved rapidly," says Lobo.

"Year after year, we have new equipment. Basically what we have integrated this year, for example, are alarm systems with video monitoring systems. Through notifications by cameras or smart recorders, we're able to have a very efficient operation that manages to have in a very accurate and fast method, any event that could be generating either in homes or offices."

Elsewhere in Mexico, they've joined a trend started in Colombia by combining fashion and safety.

Colombian designer Miguel Caballero is well-known for designing a line of bullet-proof clothing intended to keep the wearer safe while still looking good.

Encouraged by high demand in Mexico, Caballero opened this store in the country's capital to showcase his work.

There's leather and suede jackets, raincoats and blazers - all made to protect against gunfire, knives and other weapons.

According to commercial director Oscar Loaiza, Colombia is now trying to change its image, a move which could take Mexico years to accomplish.

"In Colombia, (people) still talk about the possible danger, Despite that, we have overcome a very difficult time in Colombia and today, I'm not saying that nothing happens, but things have changed," he says.

"(Unfortunately) people stay with that stigma of how Colombia was back then. That stigma somehow has moved to Mexico."

While it may take Mexico years to rid itself of a bad reputation, people here know there are still other options to guarantee their safety.

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