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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 BIWXpES6T1nDKcTTdH6zOUoXYVik4uMDpKBplt8IP/h0Etsc3lLm9X6m4xJALKBj
 cqomK4HrzUudrrWp74HKfA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-06-021480.txt : 20061113
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-06-021480.hdr.sgml : 20061113
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20061113144940
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-06-021480
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20061110
FILED AS OF DATE:		20061113
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20061113

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WITNESS SYSTEMS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001097338
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE [7372]
		IRS NUMBER:				232518693
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		300 COLONIAL CENTER PARKWAY STE 600
		CITY:			ROSWELL
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30004
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7707541900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		300 COLONIAL CENTER PARKWAY STE 600
		CITY:			ROSWELL
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30076

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Demos Darryl
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001379042

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-29335
		FILM NUMBER:		061208170

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		678-254-5423

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		300 COLONIAL CENTER PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		SUITE 600
		CITY:			ROSWELL
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30076
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 3 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-11-10</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001097338</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WITNESS SYSTEMS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WITS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001379042</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Demos Darryl</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O WITNESS SYSTEMS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>300 COLONIAL CENTER PKWY, SUITE 600</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ROSWELL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>GA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>30076</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>General Manager</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>17.52</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-11-10</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The reporting person's stock option will be exercisable as to 12,500 shares on November 10, 2007 and exercisable as to the remaining 37,500 shares vesting in 36 equal monthly installments beginning on December 10, 2007.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Loren B. Wimpfheimer, as Attorney-in-Fact for Darryl Demos</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-11-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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