Thanks a lot guys!
Greg B - No kidnappings that trip. It is a real threat though with the Bolivian border only a few kilometres away. The most common crime is stealing your vehicle, racing back across the border and leaving you beside the road. I had to check in with the local cops to let them know I was there just in case it happened to me.
My only brush with criminals so far has been the robbing of my truck in an underground department store carpark in Calama. They smashed the window and stole $5K worth of camera gear + 2 months of Chilean/NZ imagery. Very depressing!
Greg G - far too kind mate.