To the editor:

In February 2010, we purchased an alarm system. We were so pleased with our decision that we told all of our friends of which one of them purchased a similar system. A couple of days ago, the friend called me to advise that they had just cancelled their contract with the alarm company. He too had been excited about his decision and told a friend of his, who happens to be a police officer of his purchase. The officer told him that his system was useless unless he made some safeguards to protect himself. If the telephone junction box is on the exterior of your home, as most are, a potential intruder can simply walk around your house, locate the junction box, unscrew one screw, the box will open exposing the telephone wires which they simply cut with a set of wire cutters, entering your home undetected. I checked it out, it’s true.

I called the alarm company, they were very much aware of the problem. They advised that all companies face the same problem and that it may be corrected by purchasing an additional system, paying another upfront fee of $135 and $7.95 to be added to my monthly charge. I don’t know your feelings, but we felt that we were not provided with the facts and the system was sold to us knowing that is was unsecured. Had we been informed of the problem, we would have purchased it upfront, but now, we feel betrayed.

Solution, I called the phone company today and they told me that they could change the location of the junction box for $32 to the inside of the house. What would you do?

Charles Alexander

Bokeelia