Kidnappers accept post-dated cheques as ransom

Kidnappers in Brazil have accepted post-dated cheques and electrical goods as a ransom.

They kidnapped a housewife in the city of Americana for six hours while they negotiated with her husband.

He handed over a stereo, a microwave, jewellery, a mobile and five cheques. He didn't have the £5,000 cash they wanted.

Each cheque was for a different value - ranging between £1,500 and £75, the Estado de SP newspaper reports.

The housewife, who wasn't named by police, was kidnapped as she parked her car outside a cafe late at night.

The kidnappers asked for her credit cards and called her husband, demanding £5,000 in cash. He said he didn't have the money and offered the goods instead.

The kidnappers accepted the goods, but asked the husband to sign five cheques and date them over the next five months.

They freed the woman as soon as the man had handed over the cheques at a shanty town near the city.

Police haven't made any arrests but are investigating the case.