Amid shaky banking environment, more Americans may be stashing their valuables at home — sometimes, under their pillows.

Home-safe makers and retailers are reporting a 40% increase in sales in recent years. What's considered a "safe" also has evolved: In addition to the small combination boxes you'll find in a hotel closet, manufacturers also now designing full-closet safes. And full-room vaults. And the kinds of freestanding structures that inspire television shows such as " Doomsday Preppers ."

Part of the reason for the movement is the distrust in banks that has persisted since the housing crash last decade. Another is simply taste, especially among the luxury set. From the article:

"When somebody is building a $100,000 custom closet, they don't want a safe that looks like it belongs in the back of a delicatessen," says Robert Tompkin, president of Prestige Safe, a high-end New York manufacturer.

These companies aren't the only ones taking note of Americans' protection cravings. Telecom providers such as Comcast and Verizon have joined the mix by offering home-security services, MSN Money reports .

9 hours ago

You don't have to tell anybody, now they know so they'll now come demanding  for you to open it for them .

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About Teresa Mears

Teresa Mears is a veteran journalist who has been interested in houses since her father took her to tax auctions to carry the cash at age 10. A former editor of The Miami Herald's Home & Design section, she lives in South Florida where, in addition to writing about real estate, she publishes Miami on the Cheap to help her neighbors adjust to the loss of 60% of their property value.

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