It seems all the world is talking about Nancy Guthrie.
She has become “everyone’s mom.”
And her abduction has become something all of us feel compelled to help solve.
Guthrie was taken from her home in Tucson, Arizona, during the early hours of Feb. 1. Clues to who abducted the 84-year-old mother of NBC’s “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie have come in slowly.
As the days and weeks continue to pass, our collective hearts hang heavy with worry.
The mystery has gripped the nation, unleashing both outrage and terror at the prospect of a grandma being so easily swept away in the night.
“Everyone is thinking about her,” said Joe Miller, police chief for southwest suburban Palos Park. “My mother-in-law lives just blocks away. My wife used to check on her once a day. Now she’s checking three to four times a day.”
Everybody, Miller said, “is obsessed with what could have happened to this poor 84-year-old woman.”
While the rest of us can do little beyond speculating and armchair sleuthing, local law enforcement is citing the case to remind their residents that now is as good a time as any to review your own safety plan.
Especially if you are of an advanced age.
Especially if you live alone.
Personal safety starts with good hardware, Miller said. That means lighting, locks, motion detectors, cameras and, yes, even a dog.
“A dog can hear much better than many humans,” he said. “And they are a deterrent to someone trying to break in.”
If a resident is not tech-savvy, Miller said, have an adult son or daughter monitor the technology.
John Arizzi, police chief for the village of Lockport, agreed. “A subscription to a doorbell camera system — or even a full home security camera system — is always a worthwhile investment.”
He recommends residents consider an alarm system with a panic button as well as motion-activated lighting.
“I also advise residents to install quality locks with deadbolts and ensure doors are solid and secure to help keep everyone inside safe,” Arizzi said.
In addition, he advises people to always keep a charged cellphone nearby in case of emergency.
“We often give this advice to our children but we should also make sure our elderly parents and relatives are following it as well,” he said.
Personal safety also requires good software, Miller said. That means practicing good communication skills without oversharing.
Be friendly but not too open, Miller said. Don’t share financial information or travel plans with strangers, he said.
Think about how you present yourself to the world. If you’re all dressed up and exiting the casino or restaurant alone, getting into your high-end car, you could be making yourself a target, Miller said.
“Criminals know seniors are easy prey,” he said. “All they have to do is follow you home.”
Arizzi said, “One of the greatest qualities of our elderly residents is their friendliness and love of conversation. Many grew up in a time before cellphones and social media, when community connections were more personal and open. Unfortunately, criminals are aware of this and may attempt to exploit the trust of individuals who may be feeling isolated or lonely.
“It is important to remain friendly, but never allow a stranger into your home and never share too much personal information,” Arizzi said.
He suggests residents build and maintain a trusted network of neighbors, friends and family.
“Keeping others informed about your daily activities can help ensure that if something seems unusual, someone else may recognize the red flag,” he said.
“I also strongly encourage people to trust their instincts,” Arizzi said. “If something doesn’t feel right, there is often a reason. Criminals frequently attempt to gain a victim’s trust to make it easier to commit their crimes so it is important to remain cautious around unfamiliar individuals.”
In Palos Park, Miller said, residents can participate in the village’s “You Are Not Alone” program. People who sign up get regular visits from police officers. The force also checks on them after weather events or power outages.
Among the biggest threats, Miller said, are scammers — criminals trying to trick you out of your money.
Wherever there are elderly, he said, there will be opportunists.
“We’ve had a number of them in the village,” he said. “They target older people but sometimes victims are afraid to contact the police. They think it may lead to a loss of independence, that they won’t be able to live alone anymore.”
A lot of seniors are apprehensive about reporting things, Miller said. “But they shouldn’t be. We’re here to protect them.”
Another thing seniors may not realize, he said, is how easy it is to get their personal information off the internet.
“When I first heard about the Guthrie case,” Miller said, “I looked her up. I didn’t know who she was at the time but, within minutes, I was able to find out she’s worth about $45 million. That makes her family an easy mark for someone with intentions to extort money.”
Authorities spent nearly two weeks combing the southern Arizona landscape, sorting through doorbell footage, pondering what could have happened to the mother of three. They’re still trying to identify a person seen tampering with the Guthrie doorbell camera the night she was abducted.
Miller said the longer the case goes, the more likely things will not end well.
A common question he gets from residents is, “If this were to happen to me, should I fight back?”
While there is no one-size-fits-all answer, Miller said, the longer someone goes missing, the less likely they will be found alive.
“It’s very worrisome, every minute that this woman is missing,” he said. “How long can she sustain herself?”
Donna Vickroy is an award-winning reporter, editor and columnist who worked for the Daily Southtown for 38 years. She can be reached at donnavickroy4@gmail.com.
