1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:12,680 Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is true. 2 00:00:12,680 --> 00:00:15,800 The names have been changed to protect the innocent. 3 00:00:15,800 --> 00:00:21,240 Dragnet is brought to you by Chesterfield, made by Liggett and Myers. 4 00:00:21,240 --> 00:00:34,920 We have a great major tobacco company to give you a complete line of quality cigarettes. 5 00:00:34,920 --> 00:00:36,280 You're a detective sergeant. 6 00:00:36,280 --> 00:00:38,360 You're assigned to auto detail. 7 00:00:38,360 --> 00:00:41,920 An organized gang of thieves has been stripping cars in your city. 8 00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:44,400 None of the stolen merchandise is turned up. 9 00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:47,440 There's no lead to the identity of the members of the gang. 10 00:00:47,440 --> 00:00:48,440 Your job? 11 00:00:48,440 --> 00:00:54,400 Stop them. 12 00:00:54,400 --> 00:00:58,700 Smokers by the thousands are now changing to Chesterfield. 13 00:00:58,700 --> 00:01:00,160 No wonder. 14 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:04,040 More and more smokers are learning this fact for themselves. 15 00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:09,160 Chesterfield, low in nicotine, highest in quality. 16 00:01:09,160 --> 00:01:15,800 A published fact proved by chemical analyses of the country's six leading cigarette brands. 17 00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:21,320 Chesterfield, the only cigarette ever with a record like this. 18 00:01:21,320 --> 00:01:32,640 Regular or king size, Chesterfield is best for you. 19 00:01:32,640 --> 00:01:36,600 Dragnet, the documentary drama of an actual crime. 20 00:01:36,600 --> 00:01:40,720 For the next 30 minutes in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, you will 21 00:01:40,720 --> 00:01:45,280 travel step by step on the side of the law through an actual case transcribed from official 22 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:47,200 police files. 23 00:01:47,200 --> 00:01:52,680 From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, Dragnet is the story of your police force 24 00:01:52,680 --> 00:01:55,680 in action. 25 00:01:55,680 --> 00:02:01,280 It was Tuesday, June 13th. 26 00:02:01,280 --> 00:02:03,000 It was overcast in Los Angeles. 27 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:04,960 We were working the day watch out of auto theft detail. 28 00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:06,160 My partner is Frank Smith. 29 00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:07,160 The boss is Captain Nelson. 30 00:02:07,160 --> 00:02:08,160 My name is Frank. 31 00:02:08,160 --> 00:02:13,120 I was on my way into the office and it was 7 52 a.m. when I got to room 45. 32 00:02:13,120 --> 00:02:14,120 Auto theft. 33 00:02:14,120 --> 00:02:15,400 Morning, Joe. 34 00:02:15,400 --> 00:02:16,400 Hi, Bob. 35 00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:17,400 You seen Frank? 36 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:18,400 How's it coming here? 37 00:02:18,400 --> 00:02:19,400 Oh, all right. 38 00:02:19,400 --> 00:02:20,400 Hey, Joe. 39 00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:21,400 Yeah. 40 00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:24,400 When Art gets in, tell him I'm done R&I, huh? 41 00:02:24,400 --> 00:02:25,400 Yeah, sure. 42 00:02:25,400 --> 00:02:26,400 Bob, how's it going? 43 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:27,400 Oh, pretty good. 44 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:28,400 What happened to you? 45 00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:32,800 Well, if it's all the same to you, I'd rather not talk about it. 46 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:33,800 That bad, huh? 47 00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:34,800 You seen Joe? 48 00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:35,800 Yeah, he's over his locker. 49 00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:36,800 Thanks. 50 00:02:36,800 --> 00:02:37,800 Morning, Joe. 51 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:38,800 What happened to you? 52 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:39,800 Joe, I'd rather not talk about it. 53 00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:40,800 What happened to you? 54 00:02:40,800 --> 00:02:41,800 Joe, I'd rather not talk about it. 55 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:42,800 What happened to you? 56 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:43,800 Joe, I'd rather not talk about it. 57 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:44,800 Joe, I'd rather not talk about it. 58 00:02:44,800 --> 00:02:45,800 What happened? 59 00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:46,800 All those scratches on your face? 60 00:02:46,800 --> 00:02:47,800 Please, Joe. 61 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:48,800 I'll just ask you. 62 00:02:48,800 --> 00:02:49,800 Looked pretty bad, huh? 63 00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:50,800 Joe? 64 00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:51,800 Yeah? 65 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:52,800 Yeah. 66 00:02:52,800 --> 00:02:53,800 I look pretty bad, huh? 67 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:58,800 I thought you didn't want to talk about it, you said. 68 00:02:58,800 --> 00:03:01,800 If word about this gets out, Joe, I ain't ever gonna live it down. 69 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:02,800 Is that right? 70 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:03,800 I've been had, Joe. 71 00:03:03,800 --> 00:03:04,800 Copped for 12 years, I've been had. 72 00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:05,800 Well, what's it all about? 73 00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:06,800 You won't spread this around, will you? 74 00:03:06,800 --> 00:03:07,800 Look, I just asked you what happened. 75 00:03:07,800 --> 00:03:08,800 Now, if you don't want to tell me, I'll go along with you. 76 00:03:08,800 --> 00:03:09,800 You don't have to say a word. 77 00:03:09,800 --> 00:03:10,800 Come on, let's get on the reports. 78 00:03:10,800 --> 00:03:11,800 What do you say? 79 00:03:11,800 --> 00:03:16,800 You better get in touch with Bowles when he comes in, try to check some of these out, 80 00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:17,800 huh? 81 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:18,800 You're not even interested, huh? 82 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:21,800 All right, do you want to tell me about it? 83 00:03:21,800 --> 00:03:23,800 Well, if you really want to hear. 84 00:03:23,800 --> 00:03:24,800 Go ahead. 85 00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:25,800 Well, last night I took Fay down to the store. 86 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:26,800 She had a little shopping to do. 87 00:03:26,800 --> 00:03:27,800 Small stuff, you know, potholders, dish towels, things like that. 88 00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:28,800 Yeah. 89 00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:29,800 I got a parking place right in front of the store, so I waited in the car for it. 90 00:03:29,800 --> 00:03:30,800 Mm-hmm. 91 00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:31,800 I was sitting there listening to the radio when this fellow walked up to the car. 92 00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:32,800 I'm sorry, I'm sorry. 93 00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:33,800 I'm sorry. 94 00:03:33,800 --> 00:03:34,800 I'm sorry. 95 00:03:34,800 --> 00:03:35,800 I'm sorry. 96 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:36,800 I'm sorry. 97 00:03:36,800 --> 00:03:37,800 I'm sorry. 98 00:03:37,800 --> 00:03:38,800 I'm sorry. 99 00:03:38,800 --> 00:03:39,800 I'm sorry. 100 00:03:39,800 --> 00:03:40,800 I'm sorry. 101 00:03:40,800 --> 00:03:41,800 But the fellow walked up to the car. 102 00:03:41,800 --> 00:03:45,800 He leaned in the window and asked me if I had a minute, and I told him I did and asked him 103 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:46,800 what he wanted. 104 00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:47,800 Did you know the guy? 105 00:03:47,800 --> 00:03:48,820 Never saw him before. 106 00:03:48,820 --> 00:03:49,800 Didn't know him from Adam. 107 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:50,800 Oh? 108 00:03:50,800 --> 00:03:52,400 Right off, I could see the guy had trouble. 109 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:53,400 How do you mean? 110 00:03:53,400 --> 00:03:56,640 He looked real bad, like he'd been on a drunk for at least a week. 111 00:03:56,640 --> 00:03:59,880 The clothes were all rumpled up, looked like he slept in them for a week, you know how I 112 00:03:59,880 --> 00:04:00,880 mean. 113 00:04:00,880 --> 00:04:01,880 Yeah. 114 00:04:01,880 --> 00:04:02,880 What did this guy want to talk to you about? 115 00:04:02,880 --> 00:04:06,680 When I saw him, I figured he was gonna put the bite on me, so I braced myself, you know? 116 00:04:06,680 --> 00:04:08,180 You braced yourself, huh? 117 00:04:08,180 --> 00:04:10,720 Yeah, you know, I'm a real sucker for hard-l Larax stuff. 118 00:04:10,720 --> 00:04:12,720 I should learn to stay away from those guys. 119 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:14,720 She was just saying the other night that if I... 120 00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:16,720 What does this guy want, Frank? Huh? 121 00:04:16,720 --> 00:04:18,720 Well, what do you want this fellow to talk to you? 122 00:04:18,720 --> 00:04:20,720 Oh, well, he gave me this story about how I'd been on a bat 123 00:04:20,720 --> 00:04:22,720 and how he was broke and he needed some money to clean up 124 00:04:22,720 --> 00:04:24,720 before he went home. Mm-hmm. 125 00:04:24,720 --> 00:04:27,720 Well, he makes it real plain that he does not want a handout. 126 00:04:27,720 --> 00:04:28,720 Nothing for nothing. 127 00:04:28,720 --> 00:04:30,720 What do you suppose he meant by that? 128 00:04:30,720 --> 00:04:31,720 That's when he showed me the package. 129 00:04:31,720 --> 00:04:32,720 The package, huh? Yeah. 130 00:04:32,720 --> 00:04:33,720 What package? 131 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:35,720 Well, the one he was carrying. Didn't I tell you that? 132 00:04:35,720 --> 00:04:36,720 No, you didn't yet. 133 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:38,720 Well, you see, before I couldn't see it, 134 00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:40,720 then he showed it to me. 135 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:42,720 It's all done up in tissue paper, ribbons and all. 136 00:04:42,720 --> 00:04:45,720 The paper was kind of dirty, like he'd been carrying it for a long time. 137 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:47,720 Ribbon was a little tired, but it was there. 138 00:04:47,720 --> 00:04:48,720 Mm-hmm. 139 00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:49,720 So he asked me if I wanted to buy it. 140 00:04:49,720 --> 00:04:51,720 That was this package? 141 00:04:51,720 --> 00:04:53,720 Well, what was in it, he asked me if I wanted to buy that. 142 00:04:53,720 --> 00:04:55,720 Well, what was in it? 143 00:04:55,720 --> 00:04:58,720 He took off the paper and he opened the thing up. 144 00:04:58,720 --> 00:05:00,720 And Joe, inside is a brand new razor. 145 00:05:00,720 --> 00:05:03,720 Brand new. Worth 25, 26 bucks in town. 146 00:05:03,720 --> 00:05:04,720 What kind of a razor? 147 00:05:04,720 --> 00:05:06,720 Well, he said he'd let me have it for 20 bucks. 148 00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:08,720 No, what kind of a razor? 149 00:05:08,720 --> 00:05:10,720 Just a razor, the kind you shave with? 150 00:05:10,720 --> 00:05:11,720 Yeah, an electric razor. 151 00:05:11,720 --> 00:05:13,720 Oh, well, you didn't tell me it was electric. 152 00:05:13,720 --> 00:05:14,720 Didn't I say that, Joe? 153 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:16,720 No, you said he'd let you have it for 20 bucks 154 00:05:16,720 --> 00:05:17,720 just because he needed the money. 155 00:05:17,720 --> 00:05:20,720 Yeah, well, it happened that I didn't have 20 bucks, you know me, 156 00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:22,720 so I told him I couldn't make a deal. 157 00:05:22,720 --> 00:05:23,720 Then he left, huh? 158 00:05:23,720 --> 00:05:24,720 No, Joe. 159 00:05:24,720 --> 00:05:25,720 Now, look, you wanted to hear it. 160 00:05:25,720 --> 00:05:26,720 Will you let me finish? 161 00:05:26,720 --> 00:05:27,720 Well, it takes you a little time. 162 00:05:27,720 --> 00:05:29,720 I have to keep drawing you out here. 163 00:05:29,720 --> 00:05:31,720 I'm sorry, Joe. I want you to get all the facts. 164 00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:33,720 We're officers together. 165 00:05:33,720 --> 00:05:35,720 We talked back and forth for a little bit. 166 00:05:35,720 --> 00:05:38,720 Guy finally said that I looked like I had an honest face. 167 00:05:38,720 --> 00:05:40,720 That's a new approach, isn't it? 168 00:05:40,720 --> 00:05:42,720 Joe. 169 00:05:42,720 --> 00:05:43,720 Well. 170 00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:46,720 So finally he says he'll let me have the razor for 15 bucks. 171 00:05:46,720 --> 00:05:47,720 So I bought it. 172 00:05:47,720 --> 00:05:50,720 That's how you cut your face up, huh, with that new electric razor? 173 00:05:50,720 --> 00:05:51,720 Well, in a way. 174 00:05:51,720 --> 00:05:53,720 You see, I had to buy some blades last night, 175 00:05:53,720 --> 00:05:55,720 and since I had the new electric, I didn't do it. 176 00:05:55,720 --> 00:05:57,720 Well, you don't need blades for an electric. 177 00:05:57,720 --> 00:05:58,720 No, it wasn't for the electric, Joe. 178 00:05:58,720 --> 00:06:00,720 It was for the old one that I had at home. 179 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:01,720 Oh, but you had the electric now, so you... 180 00:06:01,720 --> 00:06:03,720 Sure, and once I had that in my hand, I didn't want any blades. 181 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:04,720 I see. 182 00:06:04,720 --> 00:06:07,720 The only thing I had in the house was a blade that was a week old. 183 00:06:07,720 --> 00:06:10,720 So I got up this morning, plugged in my brand new electric. 184 00:06:10,720 --> 00:06:12,720 What do you figure happened? 185 00:06:12,720 --> 00:06:13,720 Well, I'm going to take a real blind guess. 186 00:06:13,720 --> 00:06:15,720 It didn't run. 187 00:06:15,720 --> 00:06:17,720 How'd you know? 188 00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:20,720 Well, the same thing happened to Murphy over in Robbery last month. 189 00:06:20,720 --> 00:06:21,720 There was a big laugh around here. 190 00:06:21,720 --> 00:06:23,720 You were one of the guys that laughed the most, don't you remember? 191 00:06:23,720 --> 00:06:25,720 Yeah. 192 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:27,720 Oh, yeah, I remember now. 193 00:06:27,720 --> 00:06:28,720 It's miserable. 194 00:06:28,720 --> 00:06:29,720 Murphy know about this yet? 195 00:06:29,720 --> 00:06:30,720 No. 196 00:06:30,720 --> 00:06:32,720 I ain't about to tell him either. 197 00:06:32,720 --> 00:06:33,720 Riley, Smith? 198 00:06:33,720 --> 00:06:34,720 Yeah, Skipper. 199 00:06:34,720 --> 00:06:35,720 See you guys? 200 00:06:35,720 --> 00:06:36,720 Right. 201 00:06:38,720 --> 00:06:39,720 Close the door. 202 00:06:41,720 --> 00:06:42,720 Sit down. 203 00:06:42,720 --> 00:06:43,720 Thank you. 204 00:06:43,720 --> 00:06:45,720 What happened to you, Smith? 205 00:06:45,720 --> 00:06:46,720 It's a long story, Skipper. 206 00:06:46,720 --> 00:06:47,720 You can tell me later. 207 00:06:47,720 --> 00:06:49,720 Why don't you guys take a look at this? 208 00:06:49,720 --> 00:06:50,720 What do you got there? 209 00:06:50,720 --> 00:06:51,720 Just saw Chief Brown on the way in. 210 00:06:51,720 --> 00:06:53,720 He's getting pressure from the corner pocket. 211 00:06:53,720 --> 00:06:54,720 They want this thing cleared up. 212 00:06:54,720 --> 00:06:55,720 What is it, Joe? 213 00:06:55,720 --> 00:06:58,720 Last few weeks, car stripping's taking a big jump. 214 00:06:58,720 --> 00:06:59,720 Not the usual line of stuff. 215 00:06:59,720 --> 00:07:01,720 Not just happening in certain neighborhoods. 216 00:07:01,720 --> 00:07:05,720 We got reports here from the Valley, Hollywood, Wiltshire, all of the divisions. 217 00:07:05,720 --> 00:07:06,720 Same thing's happening all over town. 218 00:07:06,720 --> 00:07:07,720 Uh-huh. 219 00:07:07,720 --> 00:07:08,720 Talked to the boys in the sheriff's office. 220 00:07:08,720 --> 00:07:09,720 They're getting it. 221 00:07:09,720 --> 00:07:11,720 Same in Burbank, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica. 222 00:07:11,720 --> 00:07:14,720 Doesn't seem to be any place they aren't getting it to. 223 00:07:14,720 --> 00:07:15,720 How about the stolen stuff, Skipper? 224 00:07:15,720 --> 00:07:16,720 Any of it show up yet? 225 00:07:16,720 --> 00:07:17,720 Not that we can find. 226 00:07:17,720 --> 00:07:19,720 All the usual outlets have been checked. 227 00:07:19,720 --> 00:07:20,720 None of the loot can be bought. 228 00:07:20,720 --> 00:07:22,720 Any special kind of things being taken? 229 00:07:22,720 --> 00:07:24,720 Let him see those reports, Joe. 230 00:07:24,720 --> 00:07:25,720 Yeah, here. 231 00:07:25,720 --> 00:07:26,720 Thanks. 232 00:07:26,720 --> 00:07:27,720 Take a look. 233 00:07:27,720 --> 00:07:28,720 We're not messing with kids in this thing. 234 00:07:28,720 --> 00:07:31,720 The way the victims tell it, this gang can break into a locked car 235 00:07:31,720 --> 00:07:33,720 and lift the radio in under 10 minutes. 236 00:07:33,720 --> 00:07:36,720 They can pull all four wheels off a car in under six minutes. 237 00:07:36,720 --> 00:07:37,720 Insurance companies are screaming. 238 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:39,720 They already got into the police commission. 239 00:07:39,720 --> 00:07:42,720 Chief Brown told me this morning he didn't care how we did it, 240 00:07:42,720 --> 00:07:43,720 but he wanted it stopped. 241 00:07:43,720 --> 00:07:45,720 Well, where do we start? 242 00:07:45,720 --> 00:07:49,720 Well, up to now, the investigation's been handled pretty much by the divisions. 243 00:07:49,720 --> 00:07:51,720 From here on, it's in your laps. 244 00:07:51,720 --> 00:07:52,720 Use as many men as you need. 245 00:07:52,720 --> 00:07:53,720 Just bring the thieves in. 246 00:07:53,720 --> 00:07:55,720 You not working on anything now, are you? 247 00:07:55,720 --> 00:07:56,720 No, we're not. 248 00:07:56,720 --> 00:07:58,720 We're just winding up that Gibson thing. 249 00:07:58,720 --> 00:07:59,720 Couple reports to finish. 250 00:07:59,720 --> 00:08:00,720 We should be through by noon. 251 00:08:00,720 --> 00:08:02,720 Turn the reports over to somebody else. 252 00:08:02,720 --> 00:08:03,720 I want you to start on this thing right away. 253 00:08:03,720 --> 00:08:04,720 Okay. 254 00:08:04,720 --> 00:08:05,720 Right, Skipper. 255 00:08:05,720 --> 00:08:06,720 Anything you need, let me know. 256 00:08:06,720 --> 00:08:07,720 Right. 257 00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:08,720 I'll check you later. 258 00:08:08,720 --> 00:08:09,720 Right. 259 00:08:09,720 --> 00:08:10,720 Smith? 260 00:08:10,720 --> 00:08:11,720 Yes, sir? 261 00:08:11,720 --> 00:08:12,720 How'd you get all those cuts in your face there? 262 00:08:12,720 --> 00:08:13,720 Shaving? 263 00:08:13,720 --> 00:08:14,720 Well, in a way, yeah. 264 00:08:14,720 --> 00:08:16,720 Yeah, same thing used to happen to me. 265 00:08:16,720 --> 00:08:18,720 Why don't you get yourself an electric razor? 266 00:08:18,720 --> 00:08:19,720 Eight eleven a.m. 267 00:08:19,720 --> 00:08:22,720 Frank and I asked one of the other men in the detail to take care of the reports on the 268 00:08:22,720 --> 00:08:25,720 case that we'd finished, and then we started through the statements we'd gotten from Captain 269 00:08:25,720 --> 00:08:26,720 Nelson. 270 00:08:26,720 --> 00:08:30,720 From them, we got a pretty good idea of how the car stripping ring was operating. 271 00:08:30,720 --> 00:08:33,720 There seemed to be a definite plan for the thefts. 272 00:08:33,720 --> 00:08:35,720 Most of the stolen articles were in the luxury class. 273 00:08:35,720 --> 00:08:38,720 Only radios were taken from Cadillacs and Lincolns. 274 00:08:38,720 --> 00:08:40,720 Heaters were stolen from Chrysler's. 275 00:08:40,720 --> 00:08:42,720 Special hubcaps from Ford and Ford's. 276 00:08:42,720 --> 00:08:45,720 And then we got a pretty good idea of how the car stripping ring was operating. 277 00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:49,720 Heaters were stolen from Chrysler's, special hubcaps from foreign cars were listed among 278 00:08:49,720 --> 00:08:51,720 the stolen property. 279 00:08:51,720 --> 00:08:54,720 We had the stats office make a run on the M.O. that we could piece together, but their 280 00:08:54,720 --> 00:08:57,720 information led us nowhere. 281 00:08:57,720 --> 00:09:00,720 In none of the reports was there a possible description of the thief. 282 00:09:00,720 --> 00:09:03,720 The times the cars were stripped and the locations where the burglaries occurred made it apparent 283 00:09:03,720 --> 00:09:05,720 that it was a large scale operation. 284 00:09:05,720 --> 00:09:07,720 For the next two days, we talked to the victims. 285 00:09:07,720 --> 00:09:11,720 We double checked the time of the thefts and the movement of the victims immediately preceding 286 00:09:11,720 --> 00:09:12,720 the car stripping. 287 00:09:12,720 --> 00:09:15,720 We asked about people loitering in the vicinity of the parked cars. 288 00:09:15,720 --> 00:09:18,720 None of the drivers who had been victimized could supply us with any more evidence than 289 00:09:18,720 --> 00:09:20,720 they had given us in their statements. 290 00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:24,720 Friday, June 16th, we checked the list of recent parolees from state penitentiaries and 291 00:09:24,720 --> 00:09:28,720 work farms looking for ex-convicts who had been involved in cases of car stripping. 292 00:09:28,720 --> 00:09:32,720 The list of names we came up with were checked out, but they let us nowhere. 293 00:09:32,720 --> 00:09:35,720 In the meantime, the pressure from the citizens' groups in the city had gotten worse. 294 00:09:35,720 --> 00:09:39,720 At the end of the first week we had been working on the case, the value of stolen articles 295 00:09:39,720 --> 00:09:41,720 reached about $500 a day. 296 00:09:41,720 --> 00:09:44,720 Additional officers were assigned to patrol the streets. 297 00:09:44,720 --> 00:09:48,720 Radio cars doubled the number of field interrogations they normally made and although several arrests 298 00:09:48,720 --> 00:09:53,720 were made, the possible picked up apparently had no part in the activities of the organized ring. 299 00:09:53,720 --> 00:09:56,720 On Saturday, June 24th, we got a call from an ex-convict. 300 00:09:56,720 --> 00:09:59,720 He asked us to come out to his garage and talk to him. 301 00:09:59,720 --> 00:10:02,720 Come on back here, fellas. We can talk while I finish up. 302 00:10:02,720 --> 00:10:03,720 All right. 303 00:10:04,720 --> 00:10:06,720 Hey, quite a place you got here, Al. 304 00:10:06,720 --> 00:10:07,720 Yeah, I've been pretty lucky. 305 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:09,720 Got just about all I can handle now. 306 00:10:09,720 --> 00:10:11,720 My business is going, I'm gonna have to take on some more help. 307 00:10:11,720 --> 00:10:13,720 How many men you got working for you now, Al? 308 00:10:13,720 --> 00:10:17,720 Two full-time. Saturdays I got a couple of kids who come in and help out with the wash jobs. 309 00:10:17,720 --> 00:10:20,720 Now we can talk right here, pull up a couple of those chairs. 310 00:10:20,720 --> 00:10:24,720 There's a rag there on that bench. If you want to wipe them off, they get a little dirty standing around. 311 00:10:24,720 --> 00:10:26,720 That's okay, Al. What'd you want to see us about? 312 00:10:26,720 --> 00:10:30,720 Well, first off, I want to tell you guys that I appreciate the way you tweeted me when I fell. 313 00:10:30,720 --> 00:10:32,720 I'll never forget it. Real nice. 314 00:10:32,720 --> 00:10:33,720 Don't worry about it, Al. 315 00:10:33,720 --> 00:10:36,720 I read in the papers where you're getting a lot of heat on the stripping going around. 316 00:10:36,720 --> 00:10:37,720 Yeah, that's right. 317 00:10:37,720 --> 00:10:38,720 I just wondered how you're doing on it. 318 00:10:38,720 --> 00:10:40,720 It's going pretty slow. Why, do you know anything? 319 00:10:40,720 --> 00:10:43,720 I got a couple of rumbles. You know, it's hard not to hear them. 320 00:10:43,720 --> 00:10:45,720 I heard that none of the stuff's been shoved, that right? 321 00:10:45,720 --> 00:10:46,720 We haven't seen any of it. 322 00:10:46,720 --> 00:10:48,720 The way I get it, you aren't about to. 323 00:10:48,720 --> 00:10:50,720 Hand me that socket wrench, will you? 324 00:10:51,720 --> 00:10:52,720 This one? 325 00:10:52,720 --> 00:10:53,720 Yeah, Alton. 326 00:10:55,720 --> 00:10:56,720 Here you go. 327 00:10:56,720 --> 00:10:57,720 Thanks. 328 00:10:59,720 --> 00:11:02,720 A fella came in here a couple days ago. I knew him from before. 329 00:11:02,720 --> 00:11:04,720 He said he wanted to do business. 330 00:11:04,720 --> 00:11:07,720 He asked me if I was interested in some good buys in used radios. 331 00:11:08,720 --> 00:11:10,720 I told him I might be if they were good. 332 00:11:10,720 --> 00:11:12,720 He said these were the best, all GMs. 333 00:11:12,720 --> 00:11:13,720 Then he gave me the price. 334 00:11:13,720 --> 00:11:15,720 When I heard that, I knew something was off. 335 00:11:15,720 --> 00:11:16,720 What was he asking? 336 00:11:16,720 --> 00:11:19,720 I told him he could deliver six Cadillac radios for $28.50 apiece. 337 00:11:19,720 --> 00:11:20,720 I asked him where he got them. 338 00:11:20,720 --> 00:11:21,720 What did he say to that? 339 00:11:21,720 --> 00:11:23,720 He told me it wasn't any of my business. 340 00:11:23,720 --> 00:11:25,720 Said what he got them didn't make the radios play any different. 341 00:11:25,720 --> 00:11:28,720 What makes you figure he might be in on the operation we're after? 342 00:11:28,720 --> 00:11:30,720 I told him if he could make deliveries at that price, 343 00:11:30,720 --> 00:11:32,720 I'd want a lot more than a half a dozen. 344 00:11:32,720 --> 00:11:34,720 He said he couldn't supply them. 345 00:11:34,720 --> 00:11:36,720 Said he only could spring six. 346 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:38,720 I asked him if he was working alone. He told me no. 347 00:11:38,720 --> 00:11:40,720 I figured I ought to give you guys a call. 348 00:11:40,720 --> 00:11:41,720 Might be something for you. 349 00:11:41,720 --> 00:11:42,720 You said you know him, huh? 350 00:11:42,720 --> 00:11:43,720 Yeah, from before. 351 00:11:43,720 --> 00:11:45,720 Say, you guys like a cold beer? 352 00:11:45,720 --> 00:11:46,720 No, I don't. 353 00:11:46,720 --> 00:11:48,720 You mind if I have one? It's kind of hot. 354 00:11:48,720 --> 00:11:49,720 No, go ahead. 355 00:11:49,720 --> 00:11:50,720 Thanks. 356 00:11:54,720 --> 00:11:56,720 Day gets a little hot. You really notice it. 357 00:11:56,720 --> 00:11:57,720 Are you sure you guys don't want a beer? 358 00:11:57,720 --> 00:12:02,720 No, no thanks. 359 00:12:05,720 --> 00:12:06,720 Never could drink it out of a can. 360 00:12:06,720 --> 00:12:09,720 Seems to taste better in a glass. 361 00:12:10,720 --> 00:12:12,720 Ah, that's good. 362 00:12:12,720 --> 00:12:14,720 Who was the guy, Al? 363 00:12:14,720 --> 00:12:15,720 Ah, it's Manny, Manny Phillips. 364 00:12:15,720 --> 00:12:16,720 You know who he is in touch with him? 365 00:12:16,720 --> 00:12:18,720 Haven't got the slightest idea. 366 00:12:18,720 --> 00:12:19,720 Has he ever fallen? 367 00:12:19,720 --> 00:12:20,720 Yeah, I did time at Q for GTA. 368 00:12:20,720 --> 00:12:21,720 Is he on parole? 369 00:12:21,720 --> 00:12:23,720 I don't know. I think he made it free like I told you. 370 00:12:23,720 --> 00:12:24,720 I didn't know him real well. 371 00:12:24,720 --> 00:12:26,720 He used to hang around. Never had much to do with him. 372 00:12:26,720 --> 00:12:27,720 Mm-hmm. 373 00:12:29,720 --> 00:12:31,720 Yeah, this is the first time I've seen him since I got out. 374 00:12:31,720 --> 00:12:33,720 I've been staring clear at the old bunch. 375 00:12:33,720 --> 00:12:35,720 Makes it easier if you don't pal around with them. 376 00:12:35,720 --> 00:12:37,720 Business I got's going good. Got no trouble with anybody. 377 00:12:37,720 --> 00:12:38,720 And I wanted to go on like this. 378 00:12:38,720 --> 00:12:39,720 Mm-hmm. 379 00:12:39,720 --> 00:12:40,720 Never could figure it. 380 00:12:40,720 --> 00:12:43,720 Guy falls out and right away he's back with the same old bunch. 381 00:12:43,720 --> 00:12:45,720 How are you gonna stay clean like that? 382 00:12:45,720 --> 00:12:46,720 Well, you aren't. 383 00:12:46,720 --> 00:12:48,720 Somewhere along the line you gotta make a mistake. 384 00:12:48,720 --> 00:12:49,720 You're right back where you started. 385 00:12:49,720 --> 00:12:50,720 How long did it take you to learn it? 386 00:12:50,720 --> 00:12:52,720 I spent four and a half years at the joint. 387 00:12:52,720 --> 00:12:54,720 Some of them fall harder than that, Al. 388 00:12:54,720 --> 00:12:55,720 Yeah? 389 00:12:55,720 --> 00:12:56,720 And they still don't learn. 390 00:13:01,720 --> 00:13:02,720 1120 A.M. 391 00:13:02,720 --> 00:13:05,720 We called the office and Sergeants Bob Beck and Officer Art Molnar 392 00:13:05,720 --> 00:13:08,720 came out to the garage to stake out in case the suspect came back. 393 00:13:09,720 --> 00:13:11,720 Frank and I took Al Woodson down to the city hall 394 00:13:11,720 --> 00:13:13,720 and checked the name Manny Phillips through R&I. 395 00:13:14,720 --> 00:13:15,720 From the packages that were pulled, 396 00:13:15,720 --> 00:13:18,720 we were able to get an identification of the man who'd offered the radios for sale. 397 00:13:20,720 --> 00:13:22,720 We checked the information contained in the package. 398 00:13:22,720 --> 00:13:24,720 Phillips, whose real name was Manuel Richard Phillips, 399 00:13:24,720 --> 00:13:26,720 had an arrest record dating back 12 years. 400 00:13:26,720 --> 00:13:31,720 He'd spent one year at Fred C. Nella's School for Boys for car stripping when he was 14. 401 00:13:31,720 --> 00:13:34,720 From the time of his release, he'd been arrested on the average of once every two weeks. 402 00:13:35,720 --> 00:13:38,720 His age at the time of his latest release from San Quentin was given as 26. 403 00:13:39,720 --> 00:13:43,720 Out of that time, he'd spent a total of eight years in state penal institutions. 404 00:13:43,720 --> 00:13:46,720 From his package, we obtained his last recorded address. 405 00:13:46,720 --> 00:13:48,720 We checked it out and found that he'd moved three months before. 406 00:13:48,720 --> 00:13:50,720 We checked his forwarding address. He'd moved. 407 00:13:50,720 --> 00:13:53,720 Finally, after talking to the managers of nine more rooming houses and apartments, 408 00:13:53,720 --> 00:13:55,720 we came up with his present residence. 409 00:13:55,720 --> 00:13:58,720 The landlady told us that Phillips apparently didn't work for a living, 410 00:13:58,720 --> 00:14:00,720 but that he always had the money for his rent. 411 00:14:00,720 --> 00:14:04,720 She described him as quiet and said that he usually spent a good part of the daylight hours in his room. 412 00:14:04,720 --> 00:14:08,720 She was unable to tell us anything about his friends or any business associates that he might have. 413 00:14:09,720 --> 00:14:11,720 A stakeout was set up on the place immediately. 414 00:14:11,720 --> 00:14:13,720 Because of the apparent size of the operation, 415 00:14:13,720 --> 00:14:16,720 it was decided not to attempt to take the suspect into custody at this time. 416 00:14:16,720 --> 00:14:19,720 Instead, Captain Nelson agreed that we should keep Phillips under surveillance 417 00:14:19,720 --> 00:14:22,720 and try to learn more about the car-stripping game. 418 00:14:23,720 --> 00:14:25,720 For the next week, we followed Phillips. 419 00:14:25,720 --> 00:14:28,720 Twenty-four hours a day, there were at least two officers tracing his movements. 420 00:14:28,720 --> 00:14:31,720 On three nights, he was watched while he stripped cars of expensive accessories. 421 00:14:31,720 --> 00:14:36,720 The area was put under a code five so there would be no possibility of the suspect learning he was under observation. 422 00:14:37,720 --> 00:14:39,720 Eleven days after the surveillance began, 423 00:14:39,720 --> 00:14:42,720 Phillips was observed to visit a large marine supply yard down in San Pedro. 424 00:14:43,720 --> 00:14:47,720 The next night, July 6th, he drove up to the place at 11.37 p.m. 425 00:14:47,720 --> 00:14:50,720 He parked his car in front of the gate and dropped the large bundle over the fence. 426 00:14:50,720 --> 00:14:52,720 Immediately afterwards, he returned to his room. 427 00:14:52,720 --> 00:14:56,720 The following morning, at 8.06 a.m., we met with Sergeant Beck in Captain Nelson's office. 428 00:14:56,720 --> 00:14:59,720 What did you find out about the ownership of the supply yard? 429 00:14:59,720 --> 00:15:01,720 The license was issued to a Harry Swenson. 430 00:15:01,720 --> 00:15:02,720 And how about him? 431 00:15:02,720 --> 00:15:04,720 We checked the name through the Eye Bureau. Nothing on him there. 432 00:15:04,720 --> 00:15:06,720 Beck, you and Molnar came up with anything? 433 00:15:06,720 --> 00:15:07,720 Not that you haven't got. 434 00:15:07,720 --> 00:15:09,720 We staked out on the yard every night since we found it. 435 00:15:09,720 --> 00:15:12,720 Hasn't been a night that passes. Some car hasn't made a delivery of some kind. 436 00:15:12,720 --> 00:15:14,720 Got the license numbers of all the cars. 437 00:15:14,720 --> 00:15:16,720 They've all been checked out. 438 00:15:16,720 --> 00:15:18,720 We know who they are and where to find them. 439 00:15:18,720 --> 00:15:20,720 We've got a tail on Swenson every minute. 440 00:15:20,720 --> 00:15:21,720 Must have eyes in the back of his head. 441 00:15:21,720 --> 00:15:25,720 Soon as one of our men falls and step, he knows that the way he's acted, there isn't a thing we can prove. 442 00:15:25,720 --> 00:15:26,720 What's the DA's office say about it? 443 00:15:26,720 --> 00:15:28,720 We had lunch with Alexander yesterday, Skipper. 444 00:15:28,720 --> 00:15:30,720 Laid out the evidence we had. 445 00:15:30,720 --> 00:15:34,720 Told us if we tried to take Swenson to court with what we've got, they'd laugh us out of town. 446 00:15:34,720 --> 00:15:35,720 Where does that put you? 447 00:15:35,720 --> 00:15:37,720 Well, really not much further than we were. 448 00:15:37,720 --> 00:15:40,720 We know who's behind the ring. We know where they're operating from. 449 00:15:40,720 --> 00:15:42,720 The big thing now is to find the plant. 450 00:15:42,720 --> 00:15:46,720 Unless we can produce a stolen merchandise in Swenson's possession, we haven't got a case that'll stand up. 451 00:15:46,720 --> 00:15:48,720 No leaks about the plant? 452 00:15:48,720 --> 00:15:49,720 No, not that we can find. 453 00:15:49,720 --> 00:15:52,720 Everybody that's been near Swenson's place has been tailed. 454 00:15:52,720 --> 00:15:54,720 Twice a week there's a truck that leaves the yard. 455 00:15:54,720 --> 00:15:55,720 There's no way of telling what's in it. 456 00:15:55,720 --> 00:15:56,720 And the times we followed it, we've lost it. 457 00:15:56,720 --> 00:15:59,720 Well, how about a bug? Can you get one into Swenson's office? 458 00:15:59,720 --> 00:16:00,720 Well, I don't know how. 459 00:16:00,720 --> 00:16:02,720 There's no way of getting him out of there long enough to install one. 460 00:16:02,720 --> 00:16:04,720 The night watchman's always on the premises. 461 00:16:04,720 --> 00:16:05,720 We're not even sure he's not in on it, too. 462 00:16:05,720 --> 00:16:07,720 So where do you stand on it? 463 00:16:07,720 --> 00:16:08,720 Well, your guess is as good as ours. 464 00:16:08,720 --> 00:16:11,720 Alexander says that without finding the plant, we can't take him to court. 465 00:16:11,720 --> 00:16:14,720 Now, we've used every trick in the book to get him to lead us to it, and not one of them's worked. 466 00:16:14,720 --> 00:16:16,720 They haven't left a thing open. They're playing it real smart. 467 00:16:16,720 --> 00:16:18,720 How many men involved in the operation? 468 00:16:18,720 --> 00:16:21,720 Well, we're not sure, but as near as we can figure, 12. 469 00:16:21,720 --> 00:16:23,720 That's not counting Swenson or that night watchman. 470 00:16:23,720 --> 00:16:25,720 You've been in the business long enough to know it, then. 471 00:16:25,720 --> 00:16:26,720 What's that? 472 00:16:26,720 --> 00:16:28,720 When there's that many men working, there's got to be a leak someplace. 473 00:16:28,720 --> 00:16:29,720 Yeah. 474 00:16:29,720 --> 00:16:30,720 Find it. 475 00:16:30,720 --> 00:16:34,720 The Night Watchman 476 00:16:40,720 --> 00:16:45,720 You are listening to Dragnet, the authentic story of your police force in action. 477 00:16:45,720 --> 00:16:47,720 At cigarette dealers. 478 00:16:48,720 --> 00:16:50,720 In vending machines. 479 00:16:54,720 --> 00:16:57,720 At supermarkets and stores coast to coast. 480 00:16:57,720 --> 00:16:58,720 Chesterfields, please. 481 00:16:58,720 --> 00:17:00,720 Smokers by the thousands. 482 00:17:00,720 --> 00:17:05,720 Yes, smokers by the thousands are now changing to Chesterfields. 483 00:17:05,720 --> 00:17:07,720 The only cigarette ever to give you... 484 00:17:07,720 --> 00:17:13,720 One, proof of low nicotine, highest quality, a matter of record. 485 00:17:13,720 --> 00:17:18,720 Two, the only cigarette ever to give you this proven record with smokers. 486 00:17:18,720 --> 00:17:21,720 Again and again, over a full year and one half, 487 00:17:21,720 --> 00:17:26,720 a group of Chesterfield smokers have been given thorough medical examinations. 488 00:17:26,720 --> 00:17:29,720 The doctor's reports are again a matter of record. 489 00:17:29,720 --> 00:17:35,720 No adverse effects to the nose, throat, and sinuses from smoking Chesterfield. 490 00:17:35,720 --> 00:17:40,720 A responsible independent research laboratory supervises this continuing program. 491 00:17:40,720 --> 00:17:57,720 Chesterfield, best for me, best for you. 492 00:17:57,720 --> 00:18:02,720 For the next week, a close surveillance was kept on Swenson's Marine Supply Yard, but there were no breaks. 493 00:18:02,720 --> 00:18:06,720 Kickbacks from George Brereton up at C.I.I. in Sacramento and from Washington, D.C. 494 00:18:06,720 --> 00:18:10,720 didn't disclose any previous criminal record on the suspect. 495 00:18:10,720 --> 00:18:15,720 During that week, on Tuesday, July 11th, and on Thursday, July 13th, a large steak truck left the yard. 496 00:18:15,720 --> 00:18:19,720 The back of the truck was covered with a piece of canvas so that we were unable to see what was in it, 497 00:18:19,720 --> 00:18:22,720 but we were reasonably sure that it contained stolen merchandise. 498 00:18:22,720 --> 00:18:26,720 In scouting the neighborhood for a possible place to establish a more workable stakeout, 499 00:18:26,720 --> 00:18:28,720 we came across an empty office on the second floor of the building 500 00:18:28,720 --> 00:18:31,720 directly across the street from Swenson's place of business. 501 00:18:31,720 --> 00:18:36,720 Officers equipped with binoculars maintained a constant watch on the activities in the yard. 502 00:18:36,720 --> 00:18:40,720 After another week, the events that had been seen were reported to Assistant District Attorney Adolf Alexander, 503 00:18:40,720 --> 00:18:43,720 and he stated that if we could get pictures of the operation, 504 00:18:43,720 --> 00:18:46,720 we might be able to make a case that would stand up in court. 505 00:18:46,720 --> 00:18:49,720 Monday, July 17th, we met with Sergeant Puttoff in the crime lab. 506 00:18:49,720 --> 00:18:51,720 How far are you going to have to be from the subject, Joe? 507 00:18:51,720 --> 00:18:52,720 Well, second floor across the street. 508 00:18:52,720 --> 00:18:54,720 Are you going to be able to take all the pictures during the day? 509 00:18:54,720 --> 00:18:58,720 Don't think so, Puttoff. Most of the activity runs after nine at night. 510 00:18:58,720 --> 00:19:02,720 Well, best bet for all of the infrared, then. We can shoot it with a 4x5. 511 00:19:02,720 --> 00:19:03,720 How about light? 512 00:19:03,720 --> 00:19:06,720 Oh, is there any sort of telephone pole, traffic signal in front of the place? 513 00:19:06,720 --> 00:19:11,720 Yeah, I think so. The way I remember it, there's a phone pole about 10 feet to the left of the gate as you face the yard. 514 00:19:11,720 --> 00:19:13,720 Well, we can tie the lights to that, then. 515 00:19:13,720 --> 00:19:15,720 Well, any chance they could be spotted? 516 00:19:15,720 --> 00:19:17,720 Outside. We can put them up pretty high. 517 00:19:17,720 --> 00:19:20,720 Irregular lamp reflectors with heavy infrared filters. 518 00:19:20,720 --> 00:19:22,720 If you know they're there and look up, you're going to be able to spot them. 519 00:19:22,720 --> 00:19:24,720 Any chance of taking movies? 520 00:19:24,720 --> 00:19:25,720 Yeah, we can swing that. 521 00:19:25,720 --> 00:19:28,720 Life magazine's been experimenting with a new fast film. 522 00:19:28,720 --> 00:19:30,720 Results I've seen with it are pretty amazing. 523 00:19:30,720 --> 00:19:32,720 All you need is one street lamp. We can use that. 524 00:19:32,720 --> 00:19:37,720 Well, if you have to string the infrared lights, wouldn't it be better to shoot the movies on that kind of film? 525 00:19:37,720 --> 00:19:38,720 Well, you'd get something. 526 00:19:38,720 --> 00:19:39,720 Film's pretty slow, though. 527 00:19:39,720 --> 00:19:41,720 It'd be better to use the stuff life's come up with. 528 00:19:41,720 --> 00:19:43,720 All right, how long will it take you to set it up? 529 00:19:43,720 --> 00:19:45,720 Well, how careful do we have to be? 530 00:19:45,720 --> 00:19:48,720 Well, these guys are pretty cagey. They get any idea at all, we're dead. 531 00:19:48,720 --> 00:19:49,720 Mm-hmm. 532 00:19:49,720 --> 00:19:53,720 Well, we can have a couple of men go out in the morning and outfit them as linemen. 533 00:19:53,720 --> 00:19:55,720 They should be able to have the rig ready for you by tomorrow night. 534 00:19:55,720 --> 00:19:57,720 We can start shooting pictures then, huh? 535 00:19:57,720 --> 00:19:58,720 Should be able to, yeah. 536 00:19:58,720 --> 00:20:00,720 All right. Is J. Allen around, do you know? 537 00:20:00,720 --> 00:20:02,720 Well, I think he's over the court this morning, Joe. 538 00:20:02,720 --> 00:20:04,720 Well, then maybe you can help us out there, too. 539 00:20:04,720 --> 00:20:05,720 What's that? 540 00:20:05,720 --> 00:20:07,720 We're trying to figure some way to tail a truck. 541 00:20:07,720 --> 00:20:11,720 We've been trying to find the plant these guys are using for a couple of weeks now, and we just can't get near them. 542 00:20:11,720 --> 00:20:13,720 We wondered if J. might have any ideas on that. 543 00:20:13,720 --> 00:20:15,720 Probably use fluorescent paint, that ought to do it. 544 00:20:15,720 --> 00:20:16,720 What's the gimmick there? 545 00:20:16,720 --> 00:20:19,720 Well, you tie a can of transparent fluorescent lacquer to the back of the truck, 546 00:20:19,720 --> 00:20:21,720 punch a hole in the can, and all you got to do is follow the drops. 547 00:20:21,720 --> 00:20:23,720 You punch a hole in the can, won't all the stuff run out? 548 00:20:23,720 --> 00:20:28,720 Well, there's a couple of brands on the market that have got enough viscosity so the paint will stay in the can, 549 00:20:28,720 --> 00:20:30,720 regulate the frequency of the drops by the size of the hole. 550 00:20:30,720 --> 00:20:31,720 Can you see it? 551 00:20:31,720 --> 00:20:33,720 Not without ultraviolet lamp. 552 00:20:33,720 --> 00:20:35,720 Tie one of those to the hood of your car and you've got it made. 553 00:20:35,720 --> 00:20:37,720 You got the equipment here to do that? 554 00:20:37,720 --> 00:20:38,720 Mm-hmm. 555 00:20:38,720 --> 00:20:40,720 Well, would you have J. give us a call when he comes in? 556 00:20:40,720 --> 00:20:43,720 Right. He'll know more about it than I do, be able to give you all a dope. 557 00:20:43,720 --> 00:20:44,720 Okay. 558 00:20:44,720 --> 00:20:45,720 I'll get right on the other for you. 559 00:20:45,720 --> 00:20:46,720 Thanks a lot. 560 00:20:46,720 --> 00:20:47,720 Say, how long have you been after this bunch? 561 00:20:47,720 --> 00:20:50,720 Well, let's see. We got the assignment on June 13th. 562 00:20:50,720 --> 00:20:52,720 That'd make it over a month now. 563 00:20:52,720 --> 00:20:53,720 A lot of time. 564 00:20:53,720 --> 00:20:55,720 Well, maybe now we'll have something to show for it. 565 00:20:55,720 --> 00:21:07,720 The following morning, Tuesday, July 18th, two men from the crime lab installed three 1,000 watt lamps in front of the Marine supply yard. 566 00:21:07,720 --> 00:21:10,720 The reflectors were equipped with heavy infrared filters. 567 00:21:10,720 --> 00:21:18,720 Test exposures from our position across the street indicated that whatever pictures we got would be recognizable enough as to be admitted in a court of law. 568 00:21:18,720 --> 00:21:25,720 The new fast film was obtained and 16 millimeter cameras were installed in the window of the office across the street from Swenson's. 569 00:21:25,720 --> 00:21:31,720 We talked with Sergeant J. Allen in the crime lab and he went to work on the use of the fluorescent paint. 570 00:21:31,720 --> 00:21:39,720 After experimenting, he was able to come up with the correct size hole in the bottom of the can so that a single drop of the lacquer would fall from the can every 10 seconds. 571 00:21:39,720 --> 00:21:45,720 A portable ultraviolet lamp was obtained and was ready for immediate installation on our car. 572 00:21:45,720 --> 00:21:51,720 For the next three nights, we sat in our vantage point and we photographed all activity on the suspect's premises. 573 00:21:51,720 --> 00:21:58,720 The pictures were shown to Adolf Alexander in the district attorney's office and he told us that they would play a large part in the prosecution of the case. 574 00:21:58,720 --> 00:22:03,720 However, he said that if we could come up with a hiding place of the stolen loot, the conviction would be assured. 575 00:22:03,720 --> 00:22:12,720 Tuesday morning, July 25th, 315 a.m., Frank and I took the can of fluorescent paint and climbed the fence into the supply yard. 576 00:22:12,720 --> 00:22:13,720 Back here. 577 00:22:13,720 --> 00:22:15,720 Right. 578 00:22:17,720 --> 00:22:19,720 Oh, lousy thing. I didn't see it. 579 00:22:19,720 --> 00:22:21,720 All right, you better hold it a minute. 580 00:22:22,720 --> 00:22:24,720 Who's there? 581 00:22:25,720 --> 00:22:26,720 The watchman. 582 00:22:26,720 --> 00:22:28,720 Yeah, better get back in the shadows. 583 00:22:28,720 --> 00:22:30,720 Yeah, come on, easy. 584 00:22:31,720 --> 00:22:33,720 Come on out. I know you're there. 585 00:22:33,720 --> 00:22:38,720 Come on out. Who is it? 586 00:22:45,720 --> 00:22:46,720 That was close. 587 00:22:46,720 --> 00:22:47,720 Yeah. 588 00:22:47,720 --> 00:22:49,720 All right, let's go. The truck should be back in the shed. 589 00:22:49,720 --> 00:22:50,720 Right. 590 00:22:57,720 --> 00:22:59,720 All right, here we are. 591 00:22:59,720 --> 00:23:03,720 There's a can. You want to hang it? I'll keep an eye on it. 592 00:23:03,720 --> 00:23:04,720 All right. 593 00:23:07,720 --> 00:23:09,720 Sit this thing on here. 594 00:23:10,720 --> 00:23:12,720 I thought up this handle. This doesn't work at all. 595 00:23:12,720 --> 00:23:13,720 Wait a minute. 596 00:23:13,720 --> 00:23:15,720 Bend it down? 597 00:23:15,720 --> 00:23:16,720 Yeah. 598 00:23:16,720 --> 00:23:17,720 Give me your hand, could you? 599 00:23:17,720 --> 00:23:18,720 Wait a minute. 600 00:23:18,720 --> 00:23:19,720 There's a sharp edge on this water. 601 00:23:19,720 --> 00:23:21,720 Okay, here it is. 602 00:23:22,720 --> 00:23:23,720 All right, wait a minute. 603 00:23:24,720 --> 00:23:25,720 We still clear there? 604 00:23:25,720 --> 00:23:26,720 Yeah. 605 00:23:26,720 --> 00:23:29,720 How about that watchman? 606 00:23:29,720 --> 00:23:30,720 He went back. 607 00:23:30,720 --> 00:23:31,720 Right there we are. 608 00:23:32,720 --> 00:23:34,720 How about the stopper in the can? 609 00:23:34,720 --> 00:23:36,720 I got it in place. The first bump should knock it out. 610 00:23:36,720 --> 00:23:37,720 I hope so. 611 00:23:37,720 --> 00:23:38,720 It's got to work. 612 00:23:38,720 --> 00:23:40,720 All right, now let's try to get out of here. 613 00:23:40,720 --> 00:23:43,720 See if you can kick something else, will you, on the way? 614 00:23:47,720 --> 00:23:51,720 Tuesday night at 11.35 p.m., the stake truck pulled out of Swenson's Marine Supply Yard. 615 00:23:51,720 --> 00:23:54,720 Sergeant Bob Beck, Frank, and I were put in the back of the truck. 616 00:23:54,720 --> 00:23:58,720 Sergeant Bob Beck, Frank, and I were parked in an alley just down the street. 617 00:23:58,720 --> 00:24:00,720 We let the truck get a good 20-minute start on us, 618 00:24:00,720 --> 00:24:03,720 and then the ultraviolet lamp was attached to the hood of our car. 619 00:24:03,720 --> 00:24:06,720 Frank started the motor, and we pulled out into the street. 620 00:24:09,720 --> 00:24:10,720 Spotted anything yet? 621 00:24:10,720 --> 00:24:11,720 No. 622 00:24:11,720 --> 00:24:13,720 Maybe the lacquer dried up around the cork held it in place. 623 00:24:13,720 --> 00:24:15,720 That's a happy thought. 624 00:24:15,720 --> 00:24:17,720 Here's the corner. Which way? 625 00:24:17,720 --> 00:24:19,720 Wait a minute. 626 00:24:20,720 --> 00:24:22,720 Let's take a chance straight ahead, huh? 627 00:24:22,720 --> 00:24:24,720 All right. 628 00:24:27,720 --> 00:24:29,720 There's nothing up this way. You better double back. 629 00:24:29,720 --> 00:24:31,720 Okay. 630 00:24:33,720 --> 00:24:35,720 Let's try it to the left this time. 631 00:24:40,720 --> 00:24:42,720 How about it? See anything yet? 632 00:24:42,720 --> 00:24:43,720 Go on up a little more, will you? 633 00:24:43,720 --> 00:24:45,720 Yeah. 634 00:24:47,720 --> 00:24:48,720 Yeah, there it is. 635 00:24:48,720 --> 00:24:50,720 Yeah. 636 00:24:50,720 --> 00:24:52,720 Look at that stuff. It's really lit up. 637 00:24:53,720 --> 00:24:57,720 For the next 35 minutes, we followed the trail left by the fluorescent paint. 638 00:24:57,720 --> 00:25:00,720 From time to time, we'd lose the trail, but we'd always pick it up again. 639 00:25:00,720 --> 00:25:03,720 The truck followed the main highway from San Pedro to Santa Monica, 640 00:25:03,720 --> 00:25:06,720 and then turned left up Santa Monica Canyon. 641 00:25:06,720 --> 00:25:09,720 The trail wound around towards Sunset Boulevard and turned to the left. 642 00:25:09,720 --> 00:25:13,720 About one mile from the beach, the drops indicated that the truck had left the main street 643 00:25:13,720 --> 00:25:16,720 and turned onto a private dirt road. 644 00:25:16,720 --> 00:25:19,720 Half a mile along the road, the trail stopped in front of a large wooden building 645 00:25:19,720 --> 00:25:21,720 in the middle of a field. 646 00:25:21,720 --> 00:25:23,720 We turned off the car lights and went up to the place. 647 00:25:23,720 --> 00:25:27,720 The blinds on the windows were drawn, but there were lights on in the front room. 648 00:25:27,720 --> 00:25:31,720 Sergeant Beck covered the rear of the building, and Frank and I went up to the front door. 649 00:25:36,720 --> 00:25:38,720 All right. Yeah. 650 00:25:39,720 --> 00:25:40,720 What are you doing in here? 651 00:25:40,720 --> 00:25:41,720 Police officers, you're under arrest. 652 00:25:41,720 --> 00:25:42,720 For what? 653 00:25:42,720 --> 00:25:43,720 Is there anybody else here in the building? 654 00:25:43,720 --> 00:25:44,720 What are you arresting me for? 655 00:25:44,720 --> 00:25:45,720 You want to check with Beck, Frank? 656 00:25:45,720 --> 00:25:46,720 Right. 657 00:25:46,720 --> 00:25:47,720 What are you doing coming in here like this? 658 00:25:47,720 --> 00:25:49,720 You got no right coming around kicking doors in. 659 00:25:49,720 --> 00:25:50,720 All right, save it, Swenson. 660 00:25:50,720 --> 00:25:51,720 How do you know my name? 661 00:25:51,720 --> 00:25:52,720 We've been watching you for a month now. 662 00:25:52,720 --> 00:25:53,720 Is there anybody else in this house? 663 00:25:53,720 --> 00:25:54,720 No. 664 00:25:54,720 --> 00:25:55,720 Do you own this place? 665 00:25:55,720 --> 00:25:56,720 I'm not answering anything until I see a lawyer. 666 00:25:56,720 --> 00:25:57,720 All right, you call it any way you want. 667 00:25:57,720 --> 00:25:58,720 We can find out. 668 00:25:58,720 --> 00:25:59,720 Got no right in here. 669 00:25:59,720 --> 00:26:00,720 I'm going to see my lawyer. 670 00:26:00,720 --> 00:26:01,720 You do that, Swenson. 671 00:26:01,720 --> 00:26:02,720 What's the charge? 672 00:26:02,720 --> 00:26:03,720 Burglary. 673 00:26:03,720 --> 00:26:04,720 You think you can make it stick? 674 00:26:04,720 --> 00:26:05,720 We're going to try, mister. 675 00:26:05,720 --> 00:26:06,720 Where's your evidence? 676 00:26:06,720 --> 00:26:07,720 You got to have evidence. 677 00:26:07,720 --> 00:26:08,720 We got it. 678 00:26:08,720 --> 00:26:09,720 There's nobody else here, Joe. 679 00:26:09,720 --> 00:26:10,720 Back room's full of stuff. 680 00:26:10,720 --> 00:26:11,720 Radios, heaters, tires, all here. 681 00:26:11,720 --> 00:26:12,720 So what? 682 00:26:12,720 --> 00:26:17,720 You got to have evidence. 683 00:26:17,720 --> 00:26:18,720 All right. 684 00:26:18,720 --> 00:26:19,720 Let's go, Swenson. 685 00:26:19,720 --> 00:26:20,720 Just a minute. 686 00:26:20,720 --> 00:26:21,720 Will you listen to me a minute? 687 00:26:21,720 --> 00:26:22,720 All right. 688 00:26:22,720 --> 00:26:23,720 You got this all wrong. 689 00:26:23,720 --> 00:26:24,720 You're making a big mistake here. 690 00:26:24,720 --> 00:26:25,720 I intend to pay for every bit of that stuff back there. 691 00:26:25,720 --> 00:26:26,720 I'm going to pay for it. 692 00:26:26,720 --> 00:26:27,720 Yeah, that's right. 693 00:26:27,720 --> 00:26:28,720 You will. 694 00:26:28,720 --> 00:26:35,520 The story you have just heard is true. 695 00:26:35,520 --> 00:26:38,280 The names were changed to protect the innocent. 696 00:26:38,280 --> 00:26:42,620 On December 12th, trial was held in Department 97, Superior Court of the State of California. 697 00:26:42,620 --> 00:26:44,620 In and for the County of Los Angeles. 698 00:26:44,620 --> 00:26:46,620 In a moment, the results of that trial. 699 00:26:46,620 --> 00:26:48,620 Now, here is our star, Jack Webb. 700 00:26:48,620 --> 00:26:50,620 Thank you, George Feneman. 701 00:26:50,620 --> 00:26:56,620 Friends, we'd like to express our appreciation to all of you who made our drag-net theme song so popular. 702 00:26:56,620 --> 00:27:00,620 Whenever or wherever you hear it, we hope it'll remind you to try our Chesterfields. 703 00:27:00,620 --> 00:27:07,620 To join the thousands who are changing to Chesterfields and getting the one cigarette that's low in nicotine, highest in quality. 704 00:27:07,620 --> 00:27:10,620 Chesterfield, best for me, best for you. 705 00:27:10,620 --> 00:27:23,620 All other members of the gang were taken into custody and were brought to trial. 706 00:27:23,620 --> 00:27:32,620 Harry Ralph Swenson, along with his accomplices, was tried and convicted of 14 counts of burglary in the second degree and received sentence as prescribed by law. 707 00:27:32,620 --> 00:27:41,620 Burglary in the second degree is punishable by imprisonment in the state penitentiary for a period of not less than one, nor more than 15 years. 708 00:27:41,620 --> 00:27:48,620 If you had only one book, the Bible, do you know that you would have within its covers the finest examples of literature, both in prose and poetry? 709 00:27:48,620 --> 00:27:52,620 You'd have stories which have never been equal, adventure, love, history, and prophecy. 710 00:27:52,620 --> 00:27:56,620 So read your Bible every day during National Bible Week. 711 00:27:56,620 --> 00:28:21,620 You have just heard Dragnet, a series of authentic cases from official files. 712 00:28:21,620 --> 00:28:26,620 Technical advice comes from the Office of Chief of Police W.H. Parker, Los Angeles Police Department. 713 00:28:26,620 --> 00:28:31,620 Technical advisors Captain Jack Donahoe, Sergeant Marty Wim, Sergeant Fance Brasher. 714 00:28:31,620 --> 00:28:35,620 Heard tonight were Ben Alexander, Vic Perrin, Jack Crouchon. 715 00:28:35,620 --> 00:28:42,620 Script by John Robinson. Music by Walter Schuman. Hal Gibney speaking. 716 00:28:42,620 --> 00:28:48,620 Watch an entirely new Dragnet case history each week on your local NBC television station. 717 00:28:48,620 --> 00:28:51,620 Please check your newspapers for the day and time. 718 00:28:51,620 --> 00:29:00,620 Chesterfield has brought you Dragnet transcribed from Los Angeles. 719 00:29:00,620 --> 00:29:07,620 Have you tried new cork tip Fatima? It's the smooth smoke with Fatima tips of perfect cork. 720 00:29:07,620 --> 00:29:14,620 King size for longer filtering and Fatima quality for a much better flavor and aroma. 721 00:29:14,620 --> 00:29:19,620 Fatima is made and guaranteed by Liggett and Myers Tobacco Company. 722 00:29:19,620 --> 00:29:22,620 Try Fatima today. 723 00:29:22,620 --> 00:29:45,620 Here Frank Sinatra as Rocky Fortune tonight on the NBC Radio Network.