Arizona residents increasingly installing fortified ‘panic rooms’ after disappearances Nancy GuthrieShe was reportedly abducted from her home in Tucson about a month ago.
Contractors specializing in safe rooms say they have seen a sharp increase in inquiries since the 84-year-old disappeared in the early hours of February 1, the New York Post reported.
Guthrie, mother of the “Today” show anchor Savannah GuthrieAlthough the FBI is assisting in the investigation, it has not been found. The suspect’s identity has not yet been released.
Demand surges after disappearing
Kevin Hand builds anti-theft safe room at Sportsman Steel Safes Arizonatold the Daily Mail his company had seen a significant increase in the number of calls.
“Since the Guthrie case, there has been a huge increase in calls and business,” Hand said.
He added that many homeowners are re-evaluating their security arrangements. “People don’t want this to happen to them or their families, and they realize maybe it can,” he said.
Hand noted that while his company has historically served wealthy clients and government officials, recent inquiries have come from a wider range of residents. Consultations have reportedly been scheduled weeks in advance.
Reinforced doors and hidden spaces
The safe rooms being installed typically include steel doors weighing between 800 and 1,000 pounds, often hidden in closets or designed to resemble standard interior doors. Behind them are reinforced concrete walls lined with fire- and ballistic-resistant materials.
“We made them look like a normal door. It looks normal; looking from the outside, people wouldn’t know it was a panic room,” Hand said. Builders say the structures would be extremely difficult or even “impossible” for intruders to break through.
Steve Humble, owner of Creative Home Engineering in Arizona, told the Daily Mail that basic trapdoor installation starts at about $1,000, with enhanced options costing up to $8,500. The entire process from measurement to installation can take approximately 90 days.
The investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie remains ongoing.
