SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, D.C.  20549              




                                   FORM 8-K



                                CURRENT REPORT




                      PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
                     THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


               Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported)
                     November 24, 1997 (November 24, 1997)




                            WESTERN RESOURCES, INC.               
            (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)




             KANSAS                       1-3523                48-0290150     
(State or Other Jurisdiction of        (Commission              (Employer
Incorporation or Organization)         File Number)        Identification No.)



   818 KANSAS AVENUE, TOPEKA, KANSAS                                  66612   
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                           (Zip Code)




       Registrant's Telephone Number Including Area Code (785) 575-6300
<page1>


                            WESTERN RESOURCES, INC.

Item 5. Other Events

Western Resources herein files the following:

Exhibit 99 - Press release issued on November 24, 1997 by Western Resources
             announcing the closing of the combination of the security
             businesses of Western Resources and Protection One, Inc. to
             establish a $1 billion company and one of the largest security
             alarm monitoring companies in the United States.  As a result of
             the combination, the companies now have more than 935,000
             security customers in 48 states and leading positions in key
             security markets.

<page2>

                               SIGNATURES


     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.




                                             Western Resources, Inc.




Date     November 24, 1997                By      /s/ Jerry D. Courington     

                                                  Jerry D. Courington,
                                                       Controller              

<page3>

                                                             Exhibit 99


                 WESTERN RESOURCES AND PROTECTION ONE, INC.
                     ANNOUNCE TRANSACTION CONSUMMATION    

     TOPEKA, Kansas, November 24, 1997 -- Western Resources (NYSE:WR) and
Protection One, Inc. (NASDAQ:ALRM) today announced the closing of the
combination of their security businesses to establish a $1 billion company and
one of the largest security alarm monitoring companies in the United States.
As a result of the combination, the companies now have more than 935,000
security customers in 48 states and leading positions in key security markets.

     "Based on its successful and rapidly expanding dealer program,
substantial internal resources and aggressive participation in the security
industry's continuing consolidation, Protection One is well positioned to
build on its historical track record of growth," said John E. Hayes, Jr.,
Western Resources chairman of the board and chief executive officer.

     James M. Mackenzie, Jr., president and chief executive officer of
Protection One commented, "We are excited to commence the execution of our
shared strategy of growing Protection One to become the industry leader and
building national brand recognition. Based on the work of transition teams,
which have involved managers from both companies, we have substantial momentum
as we enter the post-combination period. The involvement of Western Resources,
with its excellent reputation and financial strength, will open new avenues
for growth and lower Protection One's cost of capital, enhancing our
competitive position."

     In addition to its leadership position in the western United States and
substantial customer concentrations in major metropolitan areas of Florida,
Georgia, Ohio and Texas, Protection One has co-marketing arrangements with
several electric power utility companies and affinity relationships with
numerous other major residential service companies. It also is a market leader
in providing mobile security services through emergency monitoring and
roadside assistance to companies such as Ford Motor Company in its Lincoln
RESCU program. 

     The combination of the security businesses was approved by Protection
One shareowners today. As part of the combination, Protection One issues
68,673,402 shares of common stock to Western Resources, raising Protection
One's current outstanding shares to 83,362,632. Western Resources contributed
its security operations, as well as cash and equity securities in exchange for
82.4% of Protection One outstanding shares. 

     Protection One shareowners of record as of November 24, 1997, will
receive a special dividend of $7.00 a share and Protection One's common stock
will trade ex-dividend on November 25, 1997. 

     Protection One is headquartered in Culver City, California, and Irving,
Texas, with principal operating centers in Beaverton, Oregon; Irving, Texas;
and Orlando, Florida, and its shares continue to trade on NASDAQ under the
symbol ALRM.

     Western Resources (NYSE:WR) is a full-service, diversified security and
energy company with total assets of almost $7 billion, including security
company holdings of $1 billion and more than 935,000 security customers in 48
states. Its utilities, KPL and KGE, operating in Kansas and Oklahoma, provide
natural gas service to approximately 650,000 customers and electric service to
approximately 600,000 customers. Through its subsidiaries, Westar Energy,
Westar Capital, and The Wing Group, a full range of energy and energy-related
products and services are developed and marketed in the continental U.S., and
offshore. For more information about Western Resources and its operating
<page4>

companies, visit us on the Internet at http://www.wstnres.com.

     Protection One provides security alarm monitoring services for
residential and small business subscribers across the nation. The company is
one of the largest residential security alarm companies in the United States. 

<page5>
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, D.C.  20549              

                                   FORM 8-K

                                CURRENT REPORT

                      PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
                     THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

               Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported)
                     November 24, 1997 (November 24, 1997)

                            WESTERN RESOURCES, INC.               
            (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

             KANSAS                       1-3523                48-0290150     
(State or Other Jurisdiction of        (Commission              (Employer
Incorporation or Organization)         File Number)        Identification No.)

   818 KANSAS AVENUE, TOPEKA, KANSAS                                  66612   
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                           (Zip Code)

       Registrant's Telephone Number Including Area Code (785) 575-6300
WESTERN RESOURCES, INC.

Item 5. Other Events

Western Resources herein files the following:

Exhibit 99 - Press release issued on November 24, 1997 by Western Resources
             announcing the closing of the combination of the security
             businesses of Western Resources and Protection One, Inc. to
             establish a $1 billion company and one of the largest security
             alarm monitoring companies in the United States.  As a result of
             the combination, the companies now have more than 935,000
             security customers in 48 states and leading positions in key
             security markets.
SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                             Western Resources, Inc.

Date     November 24, 1997                By      /s/ Jerry D. Courington     

                                                  Jerry D. Courington,
                                                       Controller
Exhibit 99

                 WESTERN RESOURCES AND PROTECTION ONE, INC.
                     ANNOUNCE TRANSACTION CONSUMMATION    

     TOPEKA, Kansas, November 24, 1997 -- Western Resources (NYSE:WR) and
Protection One, Inc. (NASDAQ:ALRM) today announced the closing of the
combination of their security businesses to establish a $1 billion company and
one of the largest security alarm monitoring companies in the United States.
As a result of the combination, the companies now have more than 935,000
security customers in 48 states and leading positions in key security markets.

     "Based on its successful and rapidly expanding dealer program,
substantial internal resources and aggressive participation in the security
industry's continuing consolidation, Protection One is well positioned to
build on its historical track record of growth," said John E. Hayes, Jr.,
Western Resources chairman of the board and chief executive officer.

     James M. Mackenzie, Jr., president and chief executive officer of
Protection One commented, "We are excited to commence the execution of our
shared strategy of growing Protection One to become the industry leader and
building national brand recognition. Based on the work of transition teams,
which have involved managers from both companies, we have substantial momentum
as we enter the post-combination period. The involvement of Western Resources,
with its excellent reputation and financial strength, will open new avenues
for growth and lower Protection One's cost of capital, enhancing our
competitive position."

     In addition to its leadership position in the western United States and
substantial customer concentrations in major metropolitan areas of Florida,
Georgia, Ohio and Texas, Protection One has co-marketing arrangements with
several electric power utility companies and affinity relationships with
numerous other major residential service companies. It also is a market leader
in providing mobile security services through emergency monitoring and
roadside assistance to companies such as Ford Motor Company in its Lincoln
RESCU program. 

     The combination of the security businesses was approved by Protection
One shareowners today. As part of the combination, Protection One issues
68,673,402 shares of common stock to Western Resources, raising Protection
One's current outstanding shares to 83,362,632. Western Resources contributed
its security operations, as well as cash and equity securities in exchange for
82.4% of Protection One outstanding shares. 

     Protection One shareowners of record as of November 24, 1997, will
receive a special dividend of $7.00 a share and Protection One's common stock
will trade ex-dividend on November 25, 1997. 

     Protection One is headquartered in Culver City, California, and Irving,
Texas, with principal operating centers in Beaverton, Oregon; Irving, Texas;
and Orlando, Florida, and its shares continue to trade on NASDAQ under the
symbol ALRM.

     Western Resources (NYSE:WR) is a full-service, diversified security and
energy company with total assets of almost $7 billion, including security
company holdings of $1 billion and more than 935,000 security customers in 48
states. Its utilities, KPL and KGE, operating in Kansas and Oklahoma, provide
natural gas service to approximately 650,000 customers and electric service to
approximately 600,000 customers. Through its subsidiaries, Westar Energy,
Westar Capital, and The Wing Group, a full range of energy and energy-related
products and services are developed and marketed in the continental U.S., and
offshore. For more information about Western Resources and its operating
companies, visit us on the Internet at http://www.wstnres.com.

     Protection One provides security alarm monitoring services for
residential and small business subscribers across the nation. The company is
one of the largest residential security alarm companies in the United States.