WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:11.680 The story you are about to hear is true. 00:11.680 --> 00:22.280 Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent. 00:22.280 --> 00:23.280 You're a detective sergeant. 00:23.280 --> 00:25.480 You're assigned to burglary detail. 00:25.480 --> 00:30.720 For the past 18 weeks a gang of safe men have been breaking into large grocery stores all 00:30.720 --> 00:31.720 over the city. 00:31.720 --> 00:32.720 They work fast. 00:32.720 --> 00:35.680 You can't localize their operations. 00:35.680 --> 00:36.680 Your job? 00:36.680 --> 00:37.680 Get them. 00:37.680 --> 00:46.560 Dragnet, the documented drama of an actual crime. 00:46.560 --> 00:50.720 For the next 30 minutes in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, you will 00:50.720 --> 00:55.320 travel step by step on the side of the law through an actual case transcribed from official 00:55.320 --> 00:56.320 police files. 00:56.320 --> 01:01.800 From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, Dragnet is the story of your police force 01:01.800 --> 01:06.800 in action. 01:06.800 --> 01:08.760 Was Wednesday, September 16th. 01:08.760 --> 01:09.760 Was hot in Los Angeles. 01:09.760 --> 01:12.640 We were working the day watch out a burglary detail. 01:12.640 --> 01:14.080 My partner's Ben Romero. 01:14.080 --> 01:15.080 The boss is Captain Wisdom. 01:15.080 --> 01:16.080 My name's Friday. 01:16.080 --> 01:20.240 It was 7.45 a.m. when I got to the service station on the corner. 01:20.240 --> 01:35.140 I went through the balloon. 01:35.140 --> 01:25.380 With the founded the double half, sir, I can only help put back my 01:25.380 --> 01:32.380 2524 please. 01:32.380 --> 01:37.380 Hi, Dick. 01:37.380 --> 01:45.100 This is Friday. 01:45.100 --> 01:46.100 Romero there. 01:46.100 --> 01:47.100 Thank you. 01:47.100 --> 01:48.100 Hey, Romero, take two. 01:48.100 --> 01:49.100 I'm on it. 01:49.100 --> 01:50.100 I'm on it. 01:50.100 --> 01:51.100 I'm on it. 01:51.100 --> 01:52.100 I'm on it. 01:52.100 --> 01:53.100 I'm on it. 01:53.100 --> 01:54.100 I'm on it. 01:54.100 --> 01:55.100 I'm on it. 01:55.100 --> 01:56.100 Take two. 01:56.100 --> 01:57.100 Romero. 01:57.100 --> 01:58.100 This Friday, Ben? 01:58.100 --> 01:59.100 Yeah, where you been? 01:59.100 --> 02:00.100 Wow, my car again. 02:00.100 --> 02:01.100 Something's wrong with that distributor. 02:01.100 --> 02:02.100 I'm going to leave it at the service station. 02:02.100 --> 02:03.100 I'll grab a street car down. 02:03.100 --> 02:04.100 Hey, here again, Joe. 02:04.100 --> 02:05.100 This one makes 37 jobs. 02:05.100 --> 02:06.100 Where at this time? 02:06.100 --> 02:07.100 Wilson Brothers Market at Melrose and Green. 02:07.100 --> 02:08.100 Drilled it safe and walked out with 462 dollars. 02:08.100 --> 02:09.100 Well, our steakouts are doing a lot of good, aren't they? 02:09.100 --> 02:10.100 I'm worn out from last night. 02:10.100 --> 02:11.100 I didn't get any sleep either. 02:11.100 --> 02:12.100 I just had time to go home and brush my teeth when this thing broke. 02:12.100 --> 02:13.100 Okay. 02:13.100 --> 02:14.100 He said Melrose and Green and Melrose and Green. 02:14.100 --> 02:15.100 I'm going to leave it at the service station. 02:15.100 --> 02:16.100 I'll grab a street car down. 02:16.100 --> 02:17.100 Okay. 02:17.100 --> 02:26.100 Where at this time? 02:26.100 --> 02:48.100 I'm going to leave it at the service station. 02:48.100 --> 03:07.100 I'm going to leave it at the service station. 03:07.100 --> 03:22.100 I'm going to leave it at the service station. 03:22.100 --> 03:38.100 I'm going to leave it at the service station. 03:38.100 --> 03:53.100 I'm going to leave it at the service station. 03:53.100 --> 04:09.100 I'm going to leave it at the service station. 04:09.100 --> 04:21.100 I'm going to leave it at the service station. 04:21.100 --> 04:28.100 I'm going to leave it at the service station. 04:28.100 --> 04:39.100 I'm going to leave it at the service station. 04:39.100 --> 04:52.100 I'm going to leave it at the service station. 04:52.100 --> 05:07.100 I'm going to leave it at the service station. 05:07.100 --> 05:24.100 I'm going to leave it at the service station. 05:24.100 --> 05:34.100 Here's goose goose goose. 05:34.100 --> 05:36.060 Looks like they tried to get rid of him. 05:36.060 --> 05:39.340 Some of the checks torn up and his fishing license ripped in two. 05:39.340 --> 05:41.860 Where could I see those be? 05:41.860 --> 05:44.740 Charles W. Royal issued last month. 05:44.740 --> 05:48.100 Good chance he might have carried the license in his pocket and got it mixed up with the 05:48.100 --> 05:49.100 checks. 05:49.100 --> 05:52.020 First maybe he was going to take the checks but changed his mind and tore them up, the 05:52.020 --> 05:53.020 license with him. 05:53.020 --> 05:54.940 Let's hope you're right, Dick. 05:54.940 --> 05:56.980 But it might just belong to some employee here. 05:56.980 --> 06:00.020 Well, we've been kind of figuring these jobs might have an inside connection. 06:00.020 --> 06:01.020 Maybe this is it. 06:01.020 --> 06:02.020 Let's check it out. 06:02.020 --> 06:05.100 Maybe this is the break we've been looking for. 06:05.100 --> 06:11.100 We went back to the office and checked the name Charles W. Royal through R&I. 06:11.100 --> 06:12.100 No record. 06:12.100 --> 06:14.540 We contacted the management of the Wilson Markets. 06:14.540 --> 06:16.980 He had been an employee at the store which was just held up. 06:16.980 --> 06:21.260 He had been transferred six months prior to their Van Nuys branch. 06:21.260 --> 06:25.540 In checking back we found that the Van Nuys Market was one of the first stores to be burglarized. 06:25.540 --> 06:30.340 It was placed under surveillance for several days and during this period another Wilson 06:30.340 --> 06:31.340 Market was burglarized. 06:31.340 --> 06:36.100 The officers conducting the surveillance accounted for all of Royal's time during the burglary. 06:36.100 --> 06:40.900 He was brought in for questioning and cleared of any complicity in the burglaries. 06:40.900 --> 06:44.660 Monday September 28th 8 a.m. we met with Captain Wisdom. 06:44.660 --> 06:47.940 The reason for Royal's fishing license being in with those checks was because he left it 06:47.940 --> 06:49.660 behind at that store when he was transferred. 06:49.660 --> 06:50.660 That's right. 06:50.660 --> 06:51.660 Manager of the store confirmed it. 06:51.660 --> 06:54.180 Said he kept it in a safe form so it wouldn't get lost. 06:54.180 --> 06:55.420 Well, that lead went nowhere. 06:55.420 --> 06:56.820 None of them go anywhere. 06:56.820 --> 06:58.260 We don't get any leads. 06:58.260 --> 07:02.740 And no kickbacks on any of our teletypes, APBs, or radio, Glenn. 07:02.740 --> 07:06.140 Between Armstrong, Rubles, and Ben and I, the girls in the stats office think we're 07:06.140 --> 07:07.500 on the payroll down there. 07:07.500 --> 07:10.980 We're wearing out the cards having to make runs on the gang's MO for us. 07:10.980 --> 07:14.060 How about that last stuff Burton from the C.I.I. sent down? 07:14.060 --> 07:15.860 Well, we checked all three of them out. 07:15.860 --> 07:16.860 Nothing. 07:16.860 --> 07:19.820 The boys in the crime lab got a lot of physical evidence if they could make something out 07:19.820 --> 07:20.820 of it. 07:20.820 --> 07:21.820 That's just it. 07:21.820 --> 07:23.020 You can't make something out of nothing. 07:23.020 --> 07:24.420 They haven't got much up there. 07:24.420 --> 07:28.180 A few steel shavings off those safes, a couple of broken bits, a handful of cotton fuzzies 07:28.180 --> 07:29.660 I think is off the guy's gloves. 07:29.660 --> 07:30.660 Can't work miracles. 07:30.660 --> 07:31.660 Yeah, that's right. 07:31.660 --> 07:35.100 I don't think we've overlooked anything, Captain. 07:35.100 --> 07:38.700 Every neighborhood in the vicinity of every burglary has been checked and rechecked. 07:38.700 --> 07:40.700 And all you turned up was that one woman? 07:40.700 --> 07:44.740 Yeah, the one that saw the three men out in the back of the Wilson Market over on Vermont. 07:44.740 --> 07:45.740 She thought they worked there. 07:45.740 --> 07:49.020 Didn't know she'd witnessed a burglary when we told her. 07:49.020 --> 07:50.740 She couldn't identify any of them. 07:50.740 --> 07:52.180 No, she couldn't. 07:52.180 --> 07:53.740 I just checked with the sheriff's office. 07:53.740 --> 07:55.620 These burglaries are driving them crazy too. 07:55.620 --> 07:56.620 No leads. 07:56.620 --> 07:59.420 Of course, when the parole office has been trying to give us a hand, we've checked out 07:59.420 --> 08:02.420 everything they sent us on discharges and parolees. 08:02.420 --> 08:03.420 Nothing fit. 08:03.420 --> 08:06.660 Well, did the markets seem to be cooperating, holding up their end as they were instructed? 08:06.660 --> 08:09.340 Well, as far as we can tell, right to the letter, yeah. 08:09.340 --> 08:12.740 All the safes that were concealed in any way have been moved out in a more conspicuous 08:12.740 --> 08:13.740 spot, all well-illuminating. 08:13.740 --> 08:18.180 The Wilson Company has bought better-made safes to replace the ones that were broken 08:18.180 --> 08:19.180 into. 08:19.180 --> 08:21.180 They're replacing their old models as fast as they can. 08:21.180 --> 08:22.740 Doesn't seem to stop them. 08:22.740 --> 08:25.420 Yeah, all that's according to the book. 08:25.420 --> 08:28.580 I figure with all those precautions, they'd be foolish enough to tip off the fees. 08:28.580 --> 08:29.580 Behind me. 08:29.580 --> 08:30.580 Oh, yeah. 08:30.580 --> 08:32.580 Take a look at this. 08:32.580 --> 08:33.580 Yeah. 08:33.580 --> 08:37.940 Larsen and Gunn turned this up at that Venice Boulevard job night before last. 08:37.940 --> 08:40.260 Remember, you grabbed stakeout instructions. 08:40.260 --> 08:41.260 That's right. 08:41.260 --> 08:43.180 Put out by the management of the markets. 08:43.180 --> 08:47.860 Every time we informed them of a stakeout night, they put these interstore memos on. 08:47.860 --> 08:50.900 That was for the purpose of informing all the different store managers of the police 08:50.900 --> 08:55.180 department's plans so they'd be sure and comply with our instructions. 08:55.180 --> 08:58.420 That was okay, but the effects have been causing us more trouble than we know. 08:58.420 --> 09:01.580 Weren't these destroyed after the store managers read them? 09:01.580 --> 09:03.100 Apparently not. 09:03.100 --> 09:06.620 We notified the management of the stores to be staked out a week in advance so that they 09:06.620 --> 09:08.980 could quietly let the stores know about it. 09:08.980 --> 09:12.780 Whether we wanted the lights left on and turned off to move the safe out of hiding, all the 09:12.780 --> 09:13.780 various instructions. 09:13.780 --> 09:17.580 And the management of the market chain just took it on themselves to send out these memio 09:17.580 --> 09:18.580 sheets, huh? 09:18.580 --> 09:19.580 Not only that. 09:19.580 --> 09:23.340 In checking the last couple of jobs, either these sheets were in the manager's desk, so 09:23.340 --> 09:24.900 they were posted in the store someplace. 09:24.900 --> 09:28.420 All the thieves had to do was go through a desk and check a bulletin board and then they'd 09:28.420 --> 09:29.660 write where we'd be. 09:29.660 --> 09:32.660 Without this advance information, maybe it'll slow them down. 09:32.660 --> 09:34.820 Maybe we can write in on part of the work we do. 09:34.820 --> 09:35.820 Yeah. 09:35.820 --> 09:39.300 Come on over here to the pin map. 09:39.300 --> 09:42.140 Here you are, Friday. 09:42.140 --> 09:45.980 A red pen for you, one for you, Romero. 09:45.980 --> 09:46.980 You put them in. 09:46.980 --> 09:49.580 I got calluses on my thumb from trying to keep up with those thieves. 09:49.580 --> 09:50.580 Yeah. 09:50.580 --> 09:51.580 Yeah. 09:51.580 --> 09:54.580 Venice Boulevard and Rockwell. 09:54.580 --> 09:57.980 And from us, yes. 09:57.980 --> 09:58.980 Just look at them on there. 09:58.980 --> 10:01.780 I'm going to run us out of pins if we don't blow the whistle on them. 10:01.780 --> 10:05.620 I'm getting a little sick of it myself. 10:05.620 --> 10:07.820 Take a good look at the map here. 10:07.820 --> 10:15.860 All the red pins are these market jobs in and around here and through here. 10:15.860 --> 10:18.820 As you know, Wilson's got stores throughout most of Southern California. 10:18.820 --> 10:19.820 Yeah. 10:19.820 --> 10:23.340 They've hit in and around the metropolitan area, Pomona, Glendale a couple of times at 10:23.340 --> 10:25.020 the beach cities. 10:25.020 --> 10:26.020 Look over here. 10:26.020 --> 10:27.500 And then they go up. 10:27.500 --> 10:28.500 Yeah. 10:28.500 --> 10:31.540 Now, for some reason, they're leaving Eagle Rock alone. 10:31.540 --> 10:32.900 Seven Wilson markets out there. 10:32.900 --> 10:34.460 Not one of them have been touched. 10:34.460 --> 10:35.900 Maybe they'll hit their next time. 10:35.900 --> 10:38.980 We double checked all cruiser units out there, told them to be doubly alert. 10:38.980 --> 10:42.780 Also to report any suspicious moves around any of the stores. 10:42.780 --> 10:47.940 I want to report in any and all cars driving below normal speeds anywhere near those markets. 10:47.940 --> 10:49.620 Anything even remotely out of line. 10:49.620 --> 10:52.100 There's seven stores in and around that area. 10:52.100 --> 10:54.100 Excuse me. 10:54.100 --> 10:56.100 Burglary wisdom. 10:56.100 --> 10:58.620 The high ball. 10:58.620 --> 11:00.820 Who's that? 11:00.820 --> 11:02.940 They did. 11:02.940 --> 11:05.620 Colorado and Bryce. 11:05.620 --> 11:07.740 Yeah, right away. 11:07.740 --> 11:08.740 Yeah. 11:08.740 --> 11:10.900 That was Lieutenant Vaughan Highland Park. 11:10.900 --> 11:11.900 I was wrong. 11:11.900 --> 11:13.660 There's only six stores in Eagle Rock now. 11:13.660 --> 11:14.660 What do you mean? 11:14.660 --> 11:20.020 They knocked one over last night. 11:20.020 --> 11:23.940 The preliminary investigation of the Wilson Brothers Market in Eagle Rock yielded no additional 11:23.940 --> 11:27.660 physical evidence, but it definitely showed that we were dealing with the same gang of 11:27.660 --> 11:28.820 thieves. 11:28.820 --> 11:32.740 In this last burglary, they got away with eighteen hundred and fifty two dollars. 11:32.740 --> 11:34.620 One thirty four p.m. 11:34.620 --> 11:38.140 After five hours of continuous checking in the immediate neighborhood of the latest market 11:38.140 --> 11:42.340 to be burglarized, Ben and I located a Mrs. Olive Rebarred. 11:42.340 --> 11:45.100 We felt sure that we'd reached a turning point in the case. 11:45.100 --> 11:49.260 Mrs. Rebarred had seen two of the gang members at work in the Wilson Market at Colorado and 11:49.260 --> 11:50.460 Bryce in Eagle Rock. 11:50.460 --> 11:55.940 She agreed to come downtown and go through photographs of criminal suspects. 11:55.940 --> 11:57.940 No. 11:57.940 --> 11:59.940 No. 11:59.940 --> 12:04.300 Not any of these. 12:04.300 --> 12:06.300 Let's try the next two, please. 12:06.300 --> 12:08.860 There are a lot of them, aren't there? 12:08.860 --> 12:09.860 Yes, ma'am. 12:09.860 --> 12:10.860 There's still a lot more to go here. 12:10.860 --> 12:11.860 I see it. 12:11.860 --> 12:12.860 No. 12:12.860 --> 12:13.860 No, none of these. 12:13.860 --> 12:19.660 That finishes this book. 12:19.660 --> 12:23.660 How many does that make that we've been through? 12:23.660 --> 12:25.660 I believe this one makes fifteen. 12:25.660 --> 12:29.700 Just looking at all those faces makes you wonder, are there any honest people? 12:29.700 --> 12:32.980 Well, these books represent an accumulation of many years, you understand. 12:32.980 --> 12:33.980 You keep pictures of everybody? 12:33.980 --> 12:34.980 Everybody in prison? 12:34.980 --> 12:39.060 Well, within our jurisdiction, yes, and a great many more besides. 12:39.060 --> 12:40.060 I see. 12:40.060 --> 12:43.660 Ben, how about that Folsom book up there for forty five and forty six? 12:43.660 --> 12:44.660 Right. 12:44.660 --> 12:47.020 I'll put this one back. 12:47.020 --> 12:48.020 Fine. 12:48.020 --> 12:51.980 Forty six, yes, that's it. 12:51.980 --> 12:53.860 All right. 12:53.860 --> 12:56.580 Here we are. 12:56.580 --> 12:59.580 You ready, Mrs. Rebar? 12:59.580 --> 13:02.140 All right. 13:02.140 --> 13:03.540 No. 13:03.540 --> 13:04.820 No. 13:04.820 --> 13:09.340 I don't believe it's anything. 13:09.340 --> 13:10.340 All right. 13:10.340 --> 13:11.340 Turn the next page. 13:11.340 --> 13:18.020 How about these? 13:18.020 --> 13:26.980 This one, you know, that one fellow looked a little like one of them. 13:26.980 --> 13:27.980 I thought he did it first. 13:27.980 --> 13:28.980 Which one was that? 13:28.980 --> 13:29.980 This one. 13:29.980 --> 13:30.980 No, I was wrong. 13:30.980 --> 13:31.980 He looked familiar at first glance. 13:31.980 --> 13:37.660 Well, now we told you before, Mrs. Rebar, if any of these men, their ears, eyes, nose, 13:37.660 --> 13:41.460 chin, any part of them looks like any part of the men that you saw, we'd like to know 13:41.460 --> 13:42.460 that. 13:42.460 --> 13:45.340 We'll have our sergeant put off it up in our crime lab, drop a composite for you. 13:45.340 --> 13:47.780 You mean you put all the different features together? 13:47.780 --> 13:48.780 Yes, ma'am. 13:48.780 --> 13:49.780 You think it might help in any way? 13:49.780 --> 13:50.780 I mean, it'll certainly help us. 13:50.780 --> 13:53.780 I didn't realize that you were that thorough. 13:53.780 --> 13:55.780 Well, we have to be. 13:55.780 --> 13:59.540 Well, I'm just not that sure about any of their features. 13:59.540 --> 14:03.260 It was just like I told you, I didn't get too good a look at them, but I thought I might 14:03.260 --> 14:04.260 remember. 14:04.260 --> 14:05.260 There's so many pictures here. 14:05.260 --> 14:07.860 Would you like to rest a little while, Mrs. Rebar? 14:07.860 --> 14:09.860 We've been going at this thing for about two hours now. 14:09.860 --> 14:10.860 No, that's all right. 14:10.860 --> 14:11.860 No, I want to help if I can. 14:11.860 --> 14:12.860 I think I'll open this door a little, Joe. 14:12.860 --> 14:13.860 All right. 14:13.860 --> 14:14.860 I've got a little draft in from the hall. 14:14.860 --> 14:15.860 There. 14:15.860 --> 14:16.860 It gets a little stuff in here sometimes. 14:16.860 --> 14:17.860 Thank you. 14:17.860 --> 14:18.860 I wonder if you'd like a cold drink or some kind of coke, something like that. 14:18.860 --> 14:19.860 No, thank you. 14:19.860 --> 14:20.860 That's very kind. 14:20.860 --> 14:21.860 I don't care for one. 14:21.860 --> 14:22.860 All right. 14:22.860 --> 14:23.860 Would you like to go on? 14:23.860 --> 14:24.860 Yes, I guess. 14:24.860 --> 14:25.860 All right. 14:25.860 --> 14:26.860 No. 14:26.860 --> 14:41.460 You understand that when I saw these men in the store, I had to look through the front 14:41.460 --> 14:42.460 window. 14:42.460 --> 14:44.460 They must have been at least 40 feet away from me. 14:44.460 --> 14:45.900 I had a shout to be heard. 14:45.900 --> 14:46.900 Yes, ma'am, I understand. 14:46.900 --> 14:50.340 They didn't come over to me at all. 14:50.340 --> 14:53.060 I just can't believe that they were really those lightning burglars. 14:53.060 --> 14:56.060 Isn't that what the paper called them? 14:56.060 --> 14:59.220 They were just as big as life. 14:59.220 --> 15:00.220 They're standing behind a meat conner. 15:00.220 --> 15:03.220 They even had on butcher's aprons. 15:03.220 --> 15:07.140 Still hard to believe because they didn't act like burglars at all. 15:07.140 --> 15:08.140 Sometimes they don't. 15:08.140 --> 15:12.900 The only thing that struck me funny was that anybody be working there on a Sunday. 15:12.900 --> 15:14.620 I've seen men in there before. 15:14.620 --> 15:17.700 It just didn't seem right that they'd be working there. 15:17.700 --> 15:22.020 I wanted to get in to pick up a box of starch. 15:22.020 --> 15:24.300 They told me to come back Monday morning when they were open. 15:24.300 --> 15:27.940 If you could have seen over the counter from where you were standing, you would have seen 15:27.940 --> 15:29.860 the floor safe right there in the meat department. 15:29.860 --> 15:30.860 They were trying to open it. 15:30.860 --> 15:31.860 I never would have known it. 15:31.860 --> 15:35.860 You're sure you people couldn't have made a mistake? 15:35.860 --> 15:37.380 No, ma'am, I don't think so. 15:37.380 --> 15:42.020 We've checked there and there was no authorized employees in that store yesterday morning. 15:42.020 --> 15:43.020 That's so. 15:43.020 --> 15:45.780 Well, it must have been them then. 15:45.780 --> 15:48.940 Yeah, we're pretty sure it was. 15:48.940 --> 15:50.300 Let me help you there, Mrs. Rebry. 15:50.300 --> 15:51.300 These pages are stuck together. 15:51.300 --> 15:52.300 Thank you. 15:52.300 --> 15:59.780 There you are. 15:59.780 --> 16:00.780 I've seen so many photographs. 16:00.780 --> 16:02.780 They're all beginning to look alike to me. 16:02.780 --> 16:05.220 If you'd like to rest a while, that's fine. 16:05.220 --> 16:09.300 Maybe you'd like to go home and come back a little later. 16:09.300 --> 16:10.300 You know something? 16:10.300 --> 16:12.340 What's that, ma'am? 16:12.340 --> 16:13.700 I'm positive now. 16:13.700 --> 16:14.700 Yeah. 16:14.700 --> 16:29.180 I wouldn't know those men if I saw them. 16:29.180 --> 16:32.220 You are listening to Dragnet. 16:32.220 --> 16:38.620 From beginning to end, Dragnet is the authentic story of your police force in action. 16:38.620 --> 16:50.140 Once more, what appeared to first be a good lead dissolved into nothing. 16:50.140 --> 16:51.900 The stakeouts were continued. 16:51.900 --> 16:54.460 Everything possible was being done to apprehend them. 16:54.460 --> 16:56.980 The burglaries of the Wilson Markets continued. 16:56.980 --> 16:58.980 On the night of October 3rd, officers D.B. 16:58.980 --> 17:03.180 O'Connell and P.W. Murphy were working the stakeout on one of the Wilson Markets in Eagle 17:03.180 --> 17:04.180 Rock. 17:04.180 --> 17:11.100 At 2.33 a.m., they had observed a Gray Ford Coupe, California license 9-Robert, 9813, 17:11.100 --> 17:15.780 driving at normal speed until reaching the storefront and then slowing down perceptibly, 17:15.780 --> 17:18.060 showing unusual interest in the market. 17:18.060 --> 17:21.900 Lieutenant Armstrong and Sergeant Rubel checked the license number through DMV. 17:21.900 --> 17:27.380 The car was registered to a Clydar Bingham, 233 South Carmona Place in Eagle Rock. 17:27.380 --> 17:31.460 It was placed under surveillance while we made a thorough check into his background. 17:31.460 --> 17:34.380 We located him at the neighborhood bar on Colorado Boulevard. 17:34.380 --> 17:37.380 We talked to him for an hour. 17:37.380 --> 17:39.100 So that's it. 17:39.100 --> 17:40.100 I'm not your man. 17:40.100 --> 17:43.220 Are you sure you didn't drive past that Wilson Market on Bellevue Avenue? 17:43.220 --> 17:46.420 I didn't say I've never driven by it, but not on the night you said. 17:46.420 --> 17:48.540 Well, have you driven by it on other nights? 17:48.540 --> 17:49.540 I wouldn't remember that. 17:49.540 --> 17:53.060 I live out here and I drive down Bellevue a lot, but I don't know if I've ever been by 17:53.060 --> 17:54.060 that market. 17:54.060 --> 17:55.060 I suppose I have. 17:55.060 --> 17:57.940 We have your license number and the word of two officers who sell you. 17:57.940 --> 17:59.260 I'm afraid they must be mistaken. 17:59.260 --> 18:01.540 You have the word of Benny and Walt. 18:01.540 --> 18:02.540 You just talked to them. 18:02.540 --> 18:04.740 I told you I was here on the night of October 3rd. 18:04.740 --> 18:07.340 I stayed here until almost daylight talking to Walt. 18:07.340 --> 18:09.900 He closed up the two and we sat around and talked. 18:09.900 --> 18:12.020 What did you say your car was parked all this time? 18:12.020 --> 18:13.020 Right out in front. 18:13.020 --> 18:15.540 Ben Walt told you that too. 18:15.540 --> 18:18.220 I'm telling you, I never left this place the other night. 18:18.220 --> 18:20.300 Is it possible you could have forgotten? 18:20.300 --> 18:21.300 Not all three of us. 18:21.300 --> 18:22.740 And you didn't loan your car to anybody? 18:22.740 --> 18:23.740 No, sir. 18:23.740 --> 18:24.740 I never loaned my car. 18:24.740 --> 18:25.740 I stayed right out there in front. 18:25.740 --> 18:27.860 What did you say you did after this place closed? 18:27.860 --> 18:30.700 As I said, I sat around and talked to Walt. 18:30.700 --> 18:31.700 He owns the place. 18:31.700 --> 18:32.700 What did you talk about? 18:32.700 --> 18:34.700 Oh, I don't know, this and that. 18:34.700 --> 18:35.700 I don't recall exactly. 18:35.700 --> 18:37.660 Did you go to work the following day? 18:37.660 --> 18:38.660 Yes, sir, I did. 18:38.660 --> 18:42.020 It seems funny you'd sit up all night talking and go to work. 18:42.020 --> 18:43.660 I don't have to be to work until I please. 18:43.660 --> 18:45.260 You know, I'm my own boss. 18:45.260 --> 18:46.260 Yeah. 18:46.260 --> 18:47.900 Well, you run your business all by yourself, do you? 18:47.900 --> 18:49.380 No, I have two secretaries. 18:49.380 --> 18:51.660 They make out checks, keep the books. 18:51.660 --> 18:53.620 What kind of business did you say you were in? 18:53.620 --> 18:54.620 Business management. 18:54.620 --> 18:58.700 You know, the thing that bothers me is why you're asking me all these questions. 18:58.700 --> 18:59.700 Routine investigation. 18:59.700 --> 19:01.220 It doesn't sound very routine to me. 19:01.220 --> 19:02.220 I don't understand. 19:02.220 --> 19:03.220 We're on an assignment. 19:03.220 --> 19:06.700 During the course of that assignment, it became necessary to interrogate you. 19:06.700 --> 19:09.700 I still don't understand. 19:09.700 --> 19:10.700 Anything else you want to know? 19:10.700 --> 19:13.580 No, sir, I think that pretty well covers it. 19:13.580 --> 19:14.580 Something I'd like to know. 19:14.580 --> 19:15.580 Yeah. 19:15.580 --> 19:21.820 Is there a law against slowing down in front of a market? 19:21.820 --> 19:25.660 Ben and I felt that Bingham was lying for some reason that we were not aware of. 19:25.660 --> 19:27.620 All efforts were made to determine that reason. 19:27.620 --> 19:29.580 We made a complete search of his residence. 19:29.580 --> 19:32.700 His relatives, friends, and associates were interrogated. 19:32.700 --> 19:35.420 The two men who had alibied for him were checked out. 19:35.420 --> 19:39.420 No evidence was obtained to connect him in any way with the Wilson Market burglaries. 19:39.420 --> 19:42.140 The surveillance was continued on the three men. 19:42.140 --> 19:44.940 During the next two weeks, another market was burglarized. 19:44.940 --> 19:47.900 None of the three men could have been involved in any way. 19:47.900 --> 19:49.260 Another month went by. 19:49.260 --> 19:51.660 The burglaries continued unchecked. 19:51.660 --> 19:53.900 The newspapers had dubbed them the lightning bandits. 19:53.900 --> 19:56.020 There was only one exception to the title. 19:56.020 --> 19:59.900 By this time, they'd begun to repeat on markets to hit again where they had burglarized a 19:59.900 --> 20:01.940 safe previously. 20:01.940 --> 20:06.300 December 3rd, 4 a.m., Ben and I were cruising the central area, the section not covered 20:06.300 --> 20:07.300 by Stacom. 20:07.300 --> 20:12.060 I figured there's only one way to beat this thing. 20:12.060 --> 20:13.060 Yeah, what's that? 20:13.060 --> 20:15.300 Ask for a transfer before they offer us one. 20:15.300 --> 20:18.220 Wow, it seems like every way we turn, we're stopped. 20:18.220 --> 20:19.220 No leads, nothing. 20:19.220 --> 20:21.460 Here it is almost Christmas again. 20:21.460 --> 20:23.540 Those markets that you started last Easter. 20:23.540 --> 20:24.540 Yeah, I know. 20:24.540 --> 20:27.540 Well, we got everything covered again tonight as best we can. 20:27.540 --> 20:30.100 If we could just keep all the markets covered at one time. 20:30.100 --> 20:32.060 Well, that's been done a couple of times, you know that. 20:32.060 --> 20:35.140 Yeah, I know that, but keep them covered all the time till we get to them. 20:35.140 --> 20:37.380 If we had the manpower, we could do it. 20:37.380 --> 20:38.380 Yeah. 20:38.380 --> 20:42.100 You want to sway in close to the curb, here's another market. 20:42.100 --> 20:43.100 Yeah. 20:43.100 --> 20:44.100 See anything? 20:44.100 --> 20:47.100 No, nothing on this side. 20:47.100 --> 20:50.180 I can't see the safe in there, can you? 20:50.180 --> 20:51.180 No. 20:51.180 --> 20:54.900 Those vegetable counters are partially blocking it. 20:54.900 --> 20:57.900 Lights on though. 20:57.900 --> 21:02.420 Yeah, this side's clear too. 21:02.420 --> 21:05.260 Rear of the store backs up against that other building, doesn't it? 21:05.260 --> 21:07.540 Yeah, only a front and side entrance. 21:07.540 --> 21:09.980 You swing around again, will you make a U? 21:09.980 --> 21:10.980 You see something? 21:10.980 --> 21:12.780 No, I'm not sure. 21:12.780 --> 21:16.940 Just pull back up in front again. 21:16.940 --> 21:18.580 All right. 21:18.580 --> 21:21.140 OK, this is fine. 21:21.140 --> 21:25.500 I'll take care of your engine. 21:25.500 --> 21:27.260 You hear that? 21:27.260 --> 21:28.260 I'm not sure. 21:28.260 --> 21:29.260 Come on. 21:29.260 --> 21:32.260 You hear it now? 21:32.260 --> 21:36.660 No, it's stuck. 21:36.660 --> 21:39.660 Come on. 21:39.660 --> 21:43.900 They're throwing vegetables at that front window. 21:43.900 --> 21:45.100 We're trying to draw our attention here. 21:45.100 --> 21:46.940 Now you cover the side, I'll try to force them to U. 21:46.940 --> 21:47.940 Right, there's a new track. 21:47.940 --> 21:48.940 Right, I see it. 21:48.940 --> 21:52.580 All right, hold it right there. 21:52.580 --> 21:57.580 Get your hands in the air. 21:57.580 --> 22:06.380 I got them, Joe. 22:06.380 --> 22:07.380 You want to shake them down? 22:07.380 --> 22:08.380 Yeah, all right. 22:08.380 --> 22:09.380 All right, stand still. 22:09.380 --> 22:10.380 Go from Joe. 22:10.380 --> 22:13.180 I'll see if there's any more besides these two. 22:13.180 --> 22:14.180 Right. 22:14.180 --> 22:15.180 Who tipped you off? 22:15.180 --> 22:18.380 If we'd had a tip, we'd have gotten you a long time ago. 22:18.380 --> 22:20.380 I said just these two. 22:20.380 --> 22:22.060 Somebody must have tipped you off. 22:22.060 --> 22:23.060 You couldn't be this lucky. 22:23.060 --> 22:24.060 Why not? 22:24.060 --> 22:28.300 You've had your share. 22:28.300 --> 22:32.500 The two men were taken into custody and were identified as Wilford Lawson and Thomas Greenfield. 22:32.500 --> 22:37.260 A check with R&I showed no previous record on either man. 22:37.260 --> 22:40.740 After a short interrogation, Wilford Lawson admitted his part in all of the burglaries 22:40.740 --> 22:42.700 of the Wilson Brothers markets. 22:42.700 --> 22:46.860 He steadily refused to give us any information as to the other possible members of the burglary 22:46.860 --> 22:47.860 gang. 22:47.860 --> 22:51.500 When Thomas Greenfield was interrogated, he was the more timid of the two. 22:51.500 --> 22:55.460 He claimed that this was the first job he'd been on with Lawson, that he did not know 22:55.460 --> 23:00.260 of any other members of the gang, that he'd only served as lookout on this particular 23:00.260 --> 23:03.020 burglary, and that he was not deeply involved. 23:03.020 --> 23:06.780 In further investigation of the two suspects, Armstrong and Ruble found that they had been 23:06.780 --> 23:08.820 seen in the company of still another man. 23:08.820 --> 23:12.180 It was impossible to get any kind of lead on the remaining suspect. 23:12.180 --> 23:14.420 We took the matter up with Captain Wisdom. 23:14.420 --> 23:18.340 It was our combined belief that we should allow Thomas Greenfield to be released on 23:18.340 --> 23:21.860 the grounds that we believed his story about his slight part in the crimes. 23:21.860 --> 23:26.860 He was placed under close 24-hour surveillance, Thursday, December 6th. 23:26.860 --> 23:31.100 Two days after we'd released Thomas Greenfield, we were called in to Captain Wisdom's office. 23:31.100 --> 23:35.860 I guess we played it the right way on letting Thomas go. 23:35.860 --> 23:36.860 How do you mean? 23:36.860 --> 23:39.420 Well, first of all, we passed one up last October. 23:39.420 --> 23:43.020 You remember Bingham, the guy driving slow past the market in Eagle Rock? 23:43.020 --> 23:44.020 Yeah. 23:44.020 --> 23:45.020 That's the one we want. 23:45.020 --> 23:49.820 And these two letters, both postmarked today, we picked them up on that mail stop on Lawson. 23:49.820 --> 23:51.420 Were they from Thomas? 23:51.420 --> 23:52.420 Yeah. 23:52.420 --> 23:53.420 A couple of choice parts. 23:53.420 --> 23:54.420 Listen to this. 23:54.420 --> 23:59.380 Client says to tell you he's not sore anymore. 23:59.380 --> 24:04.700 Ever since that mix up him and Walt and Benny decided this was the best way to play it. 24:04.700 --> 24:07.980 He says he don't want no part of what's yours. 24:07.980 --> 24:08.980 And then there's a lot more here. 24:08.980 --> 24:14.540 He says he'll get an attorney for Lawson and he thinks he really put one over on us. 24:14.540 --> 24:16.420 Anyway, all three of them are in it all the way. 24:16.420 --> 24:18.100 Well, how does Bingham figure in it? 24:18.100 --> 24:19.620 We had him under surveillance, didn't we? 24:19.620 --> 24:21.860 You know, listen to this from this other letter. 24:21.860 --> 24:26.700 Oh, yeah, here it is. 24:26.700 --> 24:29.460 I've been talking with CB. 24:29.460 --> 24:31.820 Clyde Bingham getting real clever now using initials. 24:31.820 --> 24:32.820 Yeah. 24:32.820 --> 24:35.820 I've been talking with CB several times only on the phone. 24:35.820 --> 24:36.860 He's really not sore. 24:36.860 --> 24:38.540 He only laid out since that time. 24:38.540 --> 24:39.940 He figured he might be hard. 24:39.940 --> 24:41.740 That's enough, isn't it? 24:41.740 --> 24:42.740 It's all there. 24:42.740 --> 24:45.020 And then OK, you got one to roll on. 24:45.020 --> 24:46.620 Yeah, go out and pick him up. 24:46.620 --> 24:51.620 This time we'll keep him. 24:51.620 --> 24:57.500 The story you just heard was true. 24:57.500 --> 25:01.580 One of the names were changed to protect the innocent on March 22nd. 25:01.580 --> 25:05.740 Trial was held in Superior Court, Department 88 City and County of Los Angeles, state of 25:05.740 --> 25:06.740 California. 25:06.740 --> 25:17.500 Here are the moment the results of that trial. 25:17.500 --> 25:21.260 All three suspects, Wilford George Lawson, Clyde Robert Bingham and Thomas Llewellyn 25:21.260 --> 25:24.700 Greenfield were filed on for burglary in the second degree. 25:24.700 --> 25:28.980 Wilford G. Lawson was filed on for 12 counts, Clyde R. Bingham for six counts, Thomas L. 25:28.980 --> 25:32.860 Greenfield for three counts, sentences to run consecutively. 25:32.860 --> 25:35.780 They are now serving their time in the state penitentiary. 25:35.780 --> 25:39.100 In view of the fact that the authorities were unable to prove the defendants were armed 25:39.100 --> 25:43.460 at the time of the burglaries and the stores were not inhabited, they could only be filed 25:43.460 --> 25:45.980 on for burglary in the second degree. 25:45.980 --> 25:50.700 Second degree burglary is punishable by a term of not less than one, nor more than 15 25:50.700 --> 25:51.700 years. 25:51.700 --> 25:56.020 Ladies and gentlemen, we wish to gratefully acknowledge the Michael Award presented by 25:56.020 --> 25:59.460 the Academy of Radio and Television Arts and Sciences. 25:59.460 --> 26:02.820 The Academy voted Dragnet the finest program of its kind. 26:02.820 --> 26:07.820 It is with deep humility that Dragnet accepts this citation, the highest award bestowed 26:07.820 --> 26:15.300 by the radio and television industries. 26:15.300 --> 26:19.860 You have just heard Dragnet, a series of authentic cases from official files. 26:19.860 --> 26:22.740 Technical advice comes from the Office of Chief of Police, W.H. 26:22.740 --> 26:24.740 Parker, Los Angeles Police Department. 26:24.740 --> 26:29.820 Fatima cigarettes, best of all long cigarettes, has brought you Dragnet portions transcribed 26:29.820 --> 26:30.820 from Los Angeles. 26:30.820 --> 26:33.860 Stay tuned for Counterspire next over most NBC stations.