It's a national trend that has a lot to do with the struggling economy. More and more people are investing in personal home safes to keep their money and belongings safe.

20 years ago mainly gun owners wanted a product like this, but the times have changed.

Although there are still plenty of buyers looking to store firearms these new safe shoppers just want peace of mind.

Robinson - "This is kind of your bread and butter size."

Salesman Lance Robinson stays pretty busy these days. He's selling Heritage Safes left and right.

Lance Robinson, Heritage Safes - "I'd guess we've probably seen a 30 percent increase over the last three to four years."

With a six-digit code and a four-digit price, buyers are hoping that locking up their valuables will free them of their worries.

Robinson - "Some people have got fears regarding the economy."

Like what if there's a run on the banks? What if desperate thieves target my home? What if my house is ruined by a natural disaster?

Robinson - "It's really stretched across a vast majority of markets, it used to be just for gun owners... it's for the average person now."

People like Casey Mullins who just wants to look out for his growing family.

Casey Mullins - "The economy going down the way it is... you've got to watch whatever you've got because people are going to steal anything they can get their hands on."

But stealing is hard when there's a thousand pounds of steel in the way.

Mullins - "They couldn't just bust a window out and drag a thousand pound safe out."

The main appeal for these buyers...

Robinson - "Kids and adults alike they like to hear that metallic ‘thunk’.”"

....a sturdy product and knowing their most important assets are out of sight out of mind.

We spent the day at Bedford Cooperative's Heritage Safe Sale to talk with buyers. Their event runs through Saturday. Heritage says at their last event in North Carolina, they sold every safe but one.

 

 

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