Standing in the Mt. Laurel showroom of Liberty Safes of New Jersey, manager Chris Ciko slides his finger over the biometric scanner atop a handgun vault.

The front door of the shoebox-sized vault flips down, revealing the handgun Ciko placed inside for the demonstration.

For many gun owners, this kind of technology, the same sort of thing you might find in your smartphone, is replacing keys and combinations.

Ciko said he has seen an increase in business at his store. Firearms dealers have reported an increase in sales, too.

Why? People are afraid, Ciko said.

"People are panicking," he said. "They think something is coming and they know the police can't be there for everything."

Whether its concern over crime or fears over terrorism, Ciko is seeing some customers who never considered buying a gun before.

"When gun sales go up, the safes go with it," Ciko observed, estimating that Liberty's sales have doubled in the last month.

The reasons for that extra level of safety include keeping kids out of danger and keeping guns out of the hands of criminals.

More than 183,000 guns were reported stolen around the nation in 2012, according to federal statistics. In New Jersey, 1,562 guns were reported stolen that year.

Many police departments distribute free gun locks each year, courtesy of the Project ChildSafe program. When Newfield police chief Edward Seibert promoted a gun lock distribution in his borough recently, he stressed that these locks are only the first step.

"We also recommend securing weapons in a gun safe," Seibert stressed. "Guns should be secured at all times when not in use. It's common sense."

Anyone with a child in the house should have all weapons secured, said Bob Viden Sr., owner of Bob's Little Sports Shop in Glassboro, noting the array of options available.

"There are so many ways people can secure their firearms," Viden said. "The variety has really increased.

"I like the safes because they are out of sight."

When it comes to safes, the options include everything from small lock boxes to giant, refrigerator-sized safes weighing thousands of pounds. Prices range from a few hundred bucks to several thousand dollars.

Safes of various sorts can be purchased in big-box stores, sporting goods stores and from specialty businesses.

Heavy-duty security

On the high-end, both in size and weight, the safes are big enough to hold dozens of rifles and handguns, as well as other valuables, including jewelry and important documents.

Owners of these safes have several goals.

"They want something heavy so that somebody can't carry it out of their house," Ciko said. "Then they go with fire protection and how many guns they want to put in a safe."

Biggies such as Liberty's "Presidential" model feature pistol pockets in the door and space for storing nearly 40 long guns. Safes of this caliber feature heavy-duty steel and fire protection that can keep valuables protected from fire, smoke and water.

To demonstrate durability of his products, Ciko showed off a battered safe that was recovered from the basement of a home that burned in Hainesport. The safe was originally located on the first floor, but fell into the basement as the fire raged. The vault sat in water for about five weeks until it could be pulled from the basement. "Everything in the safe was fine," Ciko said.

For another example, the store has a safe from a Philadelphia home that burglars tried to access with a crowbar and an axe. They knocked off the lock and handle mechanism, which activated "re-lockers" which basically locked down the safe, making it extra-impenetrable.

The burglars left empty-handed.

Special features, fancy finishes

Special features are a big deal in the gun safe business. Rhino Metals offers a model with a swing-out gun rack for easy access. You can also purchase interior lighting, jewelry drawers and custom exterior finishes from many safe manufacturers.

Viden said he has even seen some safes with nature scenes painted on them.

As for other special items, Winchester Safes offers a "stealth entry light," with a magnetic base that you stick on the door to gain fast access to a vault in a dark room, according to the company's website.

Small, fast and futuristic

For someone looking to secure a handgun or two and have easy access to it, handgun vaults with biometric locks are popular choices.

These small, steel boxes are designed to fit under a bed, in a closet or under a nightstand. Included hardware allows the user to bolt the box to the floor. It can be plugged in or powered by a 9-volt battery.

Ciko demonstrated a model that can store up to 15 fingerprints, so that multiple users can have access if necessary while still keeping firearms away from kids. The system comes with an override key in case of power failure.

"This is for your bedroom at night when you are in your house," Ciko explained. "When you open that safe up, your gun is here and you do what you've got to do with it."

These types of safes sell for under $300.

Feel the vibration

Another feature on the market takes advantage of smartphone technology.

Liberty's Safelert is a small gizmo that you place inside your safe to detect if your valuables are in danger. The device connects to your home WiFi and sends a message to your phone if it detects movement, a rise in temperature, change in humidity level or that the door has been opened.

You could be away on vacation and get a message on your phone that the device is detecting movement, Ciko explained. You just call the authorities and alert them that someone is tampering with your safe. Same goes if a temperature increase is detected, indicating a possible fire.

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.