Russell Neff has an ingenious homemade alarm system that costs him absolutely zero in monthly fees. You too can make one, if you only have a rotary phone ...
He removed the receiver of his telephone and dialed all but one digit in his home telephone number. He then dialed the final digit, inserted a cork in the dial hole to keep the mechanism from returning and completing the connection.
Four strings were tied to the cork and strung at ankle level to different parts of the store.
At 2:15 a.m. Neff’s telephone roused him from a sound sleep. He lifted the receiver and heard noises, dressed and drove six blocks to a service station at Lexington and Larpenteur Avs., where he called police.
http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/oldnews/archives/47
From the Upcoming ueue, submitted by Minnesotastan.
Phone System
We've had out-of-date articles from Neatorama before, but seriously...
I think the fact that he had to go to another location to call was because of the switchboard. The call probably had to be ended on both ends.