Mr. Kerik and other security experts said they believed that the wealthy financiers who live and work in Fairfield County are far too complacent. Bo Mitchell, the former police commissioner of Wilton who now heads 911 Consulting, which works with companies and municipalities on their security, said the county was a tempting target for kidnappers.

''Fairfield County is the richest county in the richest state in the richest country in the world,'' Mr. Mitchell said. ''If Fairfield County was a city, it would be the second largest for corporate headquarters.

Mr. Mitchell said that most people can't accept that they may be a target. ''The first problem I run into is a fog of denial,'' he said. ''Nobody wants to deal with this stuff.''

Before people accept their situation, most go through five stages of denial, Mr. Mitchell said. ''One, it won't happen to me; two, it won't happen here; three, it won't happen now; four, if it does, it won't be that bad; five, if it does, my insurance will cover it, and six, 'Oh my God, why didn't we plan for this?' ''

Mr. Mitchell preaches what he calls ''security by obscurity.''

''You don't have to park the Ferrari in the front yard,'' is one of his favorite admonitions. ''Keep your photo out of the press'' is another.

Another suggestion comes from Kelly McCann, managing director of Kroll Protective Services, the security firm: vary your routine and don't be so predictable about times and places. And if you have an unsettled feeling, don't discount it. He said denial and inertia are the norm.

''Most people think, I wouldn't be a great target,'' he said. ''Most people don't even consider seeking security until an event occurs.''