12/21   I'm thinking about installing an alarm system at my home.  The
        telephone wiring box at my house is at a very visible position facing
        the street.  If someone cuts the telephone wire to my house before
        breaking in, what good is the alarm system now that it can't call the
        police station or the moniter center?  Thx.
        \_ Not sure, I'd have to take a look to check out the situation. Where
           do you live again?
        \_ There is no point to a monitored service. Response times are
           too slow to be of any use. --dim
           \_ I disagree.  A monitored alarm is a nice complement to a safe.
              Ideally the safe should be on a separate zone from the rest of
              the house, but even if it's not, a slow response time is still
              fast enough to prevent a burglar from getting into your safe.
              Perhaps you don't need a safe, but I do.
              \_ Why not get a safe deposit box at that point? If I'm
                 a thief I take the safe and open it later. But I'm sure
                 your safe is actually a vault... --dim
                 \_ You're not going to take a safe with you before the
                    company monitoring the alarm gets there, especially if
                    it's properly installed (bolted to the foundation with no
                    side or rear access without going through a wall).
                    Even without proper installation, it'll take a thief
                    some time to maneuver a couple thousand pounds of steel
                    out of the house.  A safety deposit box is suitable for
                    a subset of my needs; the safe is suitable for others.
        \_ Wouldn't the cut phone lines signal the alarm company?
           \_ Yes.  We have an alarm and that's how it works.  I have no idea
              why some people think response time is "too slow".  Too slow for
              what?  The last time my alarm went off 3 cop cars were here in
              under 5 minutes while my alarm was deafeningly loud.  I don't
              care if someone does a smash n grab.  The alarm is for personal
              safety and to deter some Night Stalker type person from hanging
              out for a few days torturing us while no one outside knows.
              Some random thug *might* get away with my TV.  He won't have
              enough time to hang out doing anything else.