-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-06-075462.txt : 20061115
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-06-075462.hdr.sgml : 20061115
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20061115154425
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-06-075462
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20061114
FILED AS OF DATE:		20061115
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20061115

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PROTECTION ONE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000916230
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS SERVICES [7380]
		IRS NUMBER:				931063818
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1035 N. 3RD ST.
		STREET 2:		SUITE 101
		CITY:			LAWRENCE
		STATE:			KS
		ZIP:			66044
		BUSINESS PHONE:		785 856 5500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1035 N. 3RD ST.
		STREET 2:		SUITE 101
		CITY:			LAWRENCE
		STATE:			KS
		ZIP:			66044

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PEFANIS PETER J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001184811

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12181-01
		FILM NUMBER:		061219882

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		818 S KANSAS AVE
		CITY:			TOPEKA
		STATE:			KS
		ZIP:			66612
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7855751617
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-11-14</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000916230</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PROTECTION ONE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PONN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001184811</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PEFANIS PETER J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1035 N. 3RD ST., SUITE 101</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LAWRENCE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>KS</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>66044</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Executive Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Appreciation Rights</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-11-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>51679</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-02-08</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>51679</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>516790</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The exercise price of 78% of the stock appreciation rights is $4.50, increased by 9% per annum, compounded annually, beginning on February 8, 2006.  The exercise price of 22% of the stock appreciation rights is fixed at $5.015.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">SARs vest and become payable upon the earlier of (i) a qualified sale (as defined in the SAR Plan) of Protection One, Inc. common stock (provided that if the qualified sale is not a permissible distribution event (as defined in the SAR Plan) the payment will be made, with interest, in connection with a subsequent permissible distribution event) and (ii) February 8, 2011.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ J. Eric Griffin, under power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-11-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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