The unsettling case of Nancy Guthrie has prompted a surge in demand for reinforced “panic rooms” and fortified doors, according to Kevin Hand, a specialist in break-in-resistant safe rooms at Sportsman Steel Safes in the Grand Canyon State.
Residents across Arizona, in particular, are taking new security measures following the high-profile kidnapping of \ Guthrie, who remains missing nearly a month after she was taken from her home in Tucson.
“There has been a huge spike in calls and business since the Guthrie case,” Hand told the Daily Mail, adding that many homeowners fear they could be “ripped from their beds, never to be seen again.”
Hand said his company, which has long constructed heavy-duty steel doors and hidden safe rooms for affluent clients in Texas and California, is now seeing a shift in its customer base. Middle-class families throughout Arizona are increasingly seeking consultations, hoping to add discreet security features to their homes.
The heightened interest reflects growing anxiety in communities still shaken by the circumstances surrounding Guthrie’s disappearance. While investigators continue searching for answers, residents are opting to invest in preventative measures, including reinforced entry points and concealed spaces designed to provide protection during emergencies.
According to Hand, consultation appointments are already booked weeks in advance as concerned homeowners look for ways to enhance their safety. Many clients are requesting thick steel doors, hidden rooms, and other upgrades intended to delay or deter potential intruders.
The demand marks a notable expansion for the Arizona-based company, which for decades primarily catered to wealthy clients outside the state. Now, as uncertainty lingers in Tucson and beyond, more everyday families are turning to security upgrades for peace of mind.
Guthrie’s case remains under investigation, and authorities have not released new details about her whereabouts.