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In 1964, ADT was found to be a monopoly in restraint trade. It was shown to provide almost 80% the central station alarm service in the United States. In some cities, such New York City and Memphis, Tennessee, they were the sole provider. They were also found to have forced out business competitors by lowering prices below cost. They would charge national accounts very low prices in cities with competitors and much higher prices where no competition was available. ADT was forced to adopt a national price list, which could not be varied, to help establish Central Station Competitors in cities without competition, and to pay fines and triple damages to the federal government, customers, and local competitors.
In 1977, the UK's Lord Ashcrt had bought under performing outdoor equipment maker Hawley Goodall, and transformed it through acquisition into business services group, registered in Bermuda. In the early part 1987, Hawley bought Crime Control Inc. based in Indianapolis for $50 million, placing the company fourth place spot in the U.S. security market. Later in the year it bought ADT. This purchase transformed Hawley into the leading security services business in the United States, and resulted in the majority its revenues coming from the North American market. As a result the acquisition, Hawley changed its name to ADT Inc. and decided to refocus its business around security services. At the end 1987, the company sold its North American-based facility services business to Denmark's ISS A/S.
During the 80's, convicted serial killer Dennis Rader (a.k.a. the BTK Killer), worked for the company.
By the mid 1990s, ADT surpassed the 1 million customer milestone. In 1997, ADT was purchased by Tyco but means a reverse takeover, thus allowing Tyco a Bermudan tax status. Lord Ashcrt joined the board Tyco, although he had quickly disposed a large amount his Tyco stock taken in payment for the purchase ADT.