Arizona residents building secret ‘panic rooms’ after Nancy Guthrie’s kidnapping
Terrified residents across Arizona are rushing to install panic rooms following the kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie, who remains missing nearly a month after she was taken from her Tucson home.
Kevin Hand, a specialist in break-in-resistant “safe rooms” at Sportsman Steel Safes, told the Daily Mail that his business has seen a surge in calls from homeowners seeking thick steel doors and concealed hiding spaces.
“There has been a huge spike in calls and business since the Guthrie case,” Hand said, explaining that many residents fear they could be abducted from their own homes. While his company has spent decades installing heavy-duty doors and safe rooms for affluent clients in Texas and California, he noted that middle-class families in Arizona are now among his newest customers, with consultations booked weeks in advance.
The abduction of Guthrie — the 84-year-old mother of “Today” show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie — has left many residents asking themselves what they would do if someone broke into their home.
“People don’t want this to happen to them or their families, and they’re realizing maybe it can,” Hand said.
According to Hand, some clients, including government officials, are retrofitting their homes with 800- to 1,000-pound steel doors that blend seamlessly into existing spaces, such as walk-in closets. “We make them look just like a regular door. It just looks ordinary; someone wouldn’t know it’s a panic room from the outside,” he explained.
Behind the concealed doors — secured by keypad entry — are reinforced rooms lined with thick concrete walls and materials designed to resist fire and bullets. In addition to providing protection during emergencies, the rooms can also serve as secure storage for valuables and firearms.
“If you’re a relatively high-profile person, there’s simple precautions you can take to make your home kidnap-proof, and now everyone is wanting the same,” Hand said.
Another builder, Steve Humble, owner of Creative Home Engineering, told the Daily Mail that his company’s secret doors start at $1,000, with reinforced panels costing up to $8,500. From initial measurements to final installation, the process typically takes about 90 days.
“It’s a small price to pay to save your family’s life during an armed attack,” Humble said.
Nancy Guthrie is believed to have been kidnapped in the early morning hours of Feb. 1 from her Tucson residence. Despite an extensive investigation assisted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, she remains missing, and no suspects have been publicly identified.
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