Abstract: A guard for preventing the vandalism of the vault and vault door of a pay telephone, comprising a plurality of rigid segments. Each rigid segment includes an attachment end and a free end, defining a perpendicular distance therebetween. Each of the rigid segments is attached at its attachment end to the lower housing of the pay telephone immediately adjacent and substantially surrounding the vault door. In the preferred embodiment, the plurality of rigid segments comprise one integral rigid member. The guard changes the leverage point of the pry bar of a vandal so as to prohibit such vandal from forceably removing the vault door. The leverage point is changed from proximate the vault door to the free end of a rigid segment or integral rigid member.

Abstract: This invention is a guard for preventing the vandalism of the keypad of a telephone. If the telephone is a pay telephone, the invention further prevents, thus preventing entry into the telephone money box from the upper housing area. The telephone guard, composed of an upper housing guard and a keypad guard, is secured by high strength visible fasteners to the upper housing of a pay telephone. The upper housing guard and keypad guard are mated tightly to prevent vandals from prying off the keypad guard. The thickness of the keypad guard is greater than the throw length of the push buttons of the keypad. Thus, the force of a blow to the keypad will be absorbed by the front of the guard rather than the push buttons.