An electronic article surveillance device with an electronics housing and base attaches to an article to be protected. The housing and base have connecting interfaces which act together to attach the housing to the base. The housing and base have matching apertures. A switch and a wrapping splitter extend from the housing through the apertures. The switch detects when the device is attached to an object and the wrapping splitter splits the wrapping to prevent the wrapping from being used to defeat the switch. Electronics monitor the status of the switch. The apparatus may employ a restraining mechanism to prevent the operation of the wrapping splitter unless the housing is attached to the base. The housing and base may be attached to each other by a manually movable latch, which may also actuate the wrapping splitter. Electronics in the apparatus receive and send signals.