WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:11.240 Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is true. 00:11.240 --> 00:22.400 DRAGNETS You're a detective sergeant. 00:22.400 --> 00:24.920 You're assigned to burglary division. 00:24.920 --> 00:28.520 You get a call that an important piece of religious art has been stolen from the oldest 00:28.520 --> 00:30.480 church in Los Angeles. 00:30.480 --> 00:33.000 There's no lead to its whereabouts. 00:33.000 --> 00:34.280 Your job? 00:34.280 --> 00:38.240 Find it. 00:38.240 --> 00:48.600 DRAGNETS The documented drama of an actual crime. 00:48.600 --> 00:52.440 For the next 30 minutes in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, you will 00:52.440 --> 00:56.400 travel step by step on the side of the law through an actual case from official police 00:56.400 --> 00:57.400 files. 00:57.400 --> 01:02.640 From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, DRAGNET is the story of your police force 01:02.640 --> 01:03.640 in action. 01:03.640 --> 01:07.520 It was Wednesday, December 24th. 01:07.520 --> 01:09.360 It was cold in Los Angeles. 01:09.360 --> 01:11.320 We were working the day watch out of burglary division. 01:11.320 --> 01:12.480 My partner's Frank Smith. 01:12.480 --> 01:13.900 The boss is Captain Bernard. 01:13.900 --> 01:14.900 My name's Friday. 01:14.900 --> 01:18.720 I'd gone across the street to buy stamps for some Christmas cards I was sending out. 01:18.720 --> 01:22.280 It was 9.15 a.m. when I got back to room 45. 01:22.280 --> 01:23.280 Burglary. 01:23.280 --> 01:28.280 I sat out at a table in the squad room and I started to address the cards when Frank 01:28.280 --> 01:30.880 walked in carrying a stack of Christmas boxes. 01:30.880 --> 01:32.880 Hi, Joe. 01:32.880 --> 01:33.880 Hi. 01:33.880 --> 01:35.880 Christmas cards, huh? 01:35.880 --> 01:38.880 A little late, aren't you? 01:38.880 --> 01:42.360 Well, I was going to send them out Monday, but we had that stake out. 01:42.360 --> 01:43.840 You ought to get married, Joe. 01:43.840 --> 01:44.840 Yeah? 01:44.840 --> 01:45.840 It's the only system. 01:45.840 --> 01:48.040 It does all that stuff for me. 01:48.040 --> 01:49.760 Laundry, mails, cards. 01:49.760 --> 01:50.760 Only system. 01:50.760 --> 01:51.760 Might help. 01:51.760 --> 01:53.760 I brought in your present. 01:53.760 --> 01:54.760 Want to open it now? 01:54.760 --> 01:55.760 No, I'll wait. 01:55.760 --> 01:57.760 I always open a couple a day before. 01:57.760 --> 01:58.760 Why? 01:58.760 --> 02:01.160 Well, it puts you in the spirit ahead of time. 02:01.160 --> 02:02.560 I opened Phil's this morning. 02:02.560 --> 02:03.560 Who's he? 02:03.560 --> 02:04.560 Ray's brother in Denver. 02:04.560 --> 02:05.560 He gave me a magazine. 02:05.560 --> 02:06.560 One of those funny ones. 02:06.560 --> 02:07.560 What do you mean, a comic book? 02:07.560 --> 02:08.560 No. 02:08.560 --> 02:09.560 One of those funny ones, you know. 02:09.560 --> 02:10.560 No, I don't, Frank. 02:10.560 --> 02:11.560 Well, some of the pages have holes in them. 02:11.560 --> 02:12.560 You look through and there's a picture on the next page. 02:12.560 --> 02:13.560 Oh, yeah, I've seen those on the newsstand. 02:13.560 --> 02:14.560 They have cloth pasted in. 02:14.560 --> 02:15.560 Cloth pasted in? 02:15.560 --> 02:16.560 Yeah. 02:16.560 --> 02:17.560 You know, I've seen those on the newsstand. 02:17.560 --> 02:18.560 They have cloth pasted in. 02:18.560 --> 02:22.400 Cloth? 02:22.400 --> 02:23.400 In the ads. 02:23.400 --> 02:25.120 If you want to buy a suit, they have a sample right there. 02:25.120 --> 02:26.560 You mean you can feel it? 02:26.560 --> 02:27.560 Reach right out and feel it. 02:27.560 --> 02:28.560 It was one for $200. 02:28.560 --> 02:29.560 A suit? 02:29.560 --> 02:30.560 Sure. 02:30.560 --> 02:31.560 The cloth comes from Scotland. 02:31.560 --> 02:32.560 And what's it made out of? 02:32.560 --> 02:33.560 Solid gold? 02:33.560 --> 02:35.560 No, they've got a special kind of gold over there. 02:35.560 --> 02:36.560 It's real smooth. 02:36.560 --> 02:37.560 Not a goat, Frank. 02:37.560 --> 02:38.560 A sheep. 02:38.560 --> 02:41.560 Well, it's a special kind of sheep then, because a suit costs $200. 02:41.560 --> 02:42.560 You going to get one? 02:42.560 --> 02:43.560 I told Fay. 02:43.560 --> 02:44.560 She said, wear the sample. 02:44.560 --> 02:45.560 Anything doing? 02:45.560 --> 02:49.560 Hanning and Pryor were in on that market holdup. 02:49.560 --> 02:50.560 They come up with anything? 02:50.560 --> 02:51.560 Pound of air. 02:51.560 --> 02:52.560 Nothing else. 02:52.560 --> 02:53.560 I hope it stays quiet. 02:53.560 --> 02:54.560 I've got more shopping to do. 02:54.560 --> 02:55.560 I finished. 02:55.560 --> 02:56.560 What did you get Ann? 02:56.560 --> 03:00.560 Stationary set, some paper and envelopes, leather binding. 03:00.560 --> 03:02.560 Joe, you'll never learn. 03:02.560 --> 03:03.560 What's the matter? 03:03.560 --> 03:05.560 No woman wants a stationary set. 03:05.560 --> 03:06.560 Get her something personal. 03:06.560 --> 03:08.560 Well, it's got her initials on it. 03:08.560 --> 03:09.560 No, no. 03:09.560 --> 03:11.560 You want something more sentimental, romantic. 03:11.560 --> 03:13.560 What did you get Fay? 03:13.560 --> 03:15.560 It's different in her case. 03:15.560 --> 03:17.560 What did you get Fay? 03:17.560 --> 03:19.560 Sewing machine. 03:19.560 --> 03:20.560 That's romantic. 03:20.560 --> 03:21.560 Well, there's no way. 03:21.560 --> 03:23.560 Why don't you buy her a catcher's mitt? 03:23.560 --> 03:28.560 Burger refridgerator. 03:28.560 --> 03:29.560 Yes, that's right. 03:29.560 --> 03:32.560 You have the right department. 03:32.560 --> 03:34.560 All right, Father, we'll be right down. 03:34.560 --> 03:36.560 No, you can tell us about it there. 03:36.560 --> 03:38.560 Goodbye. 03:38.560 --> 03:40.560 The old mission church, they've had a theft. 03:40.560 --> 03:41.560 Collection money? 03:41.560 --> 03:42.560 Statue of the Child Jesus. 03:42.560 --> 03:47.560 Frank and I checked out of the office and rode over to the church 03:47.560 --> 03:50.560 at the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Main. 03:50.560 --> 03:57.560 The old Mission Plaza church, founded 1781, 03:57.560 --> 04:00.560 the year Los Angeles became a Pueblo. 04:00.560 --> 04:02.560 The outside was typical early Spanish design, 04:02.560 --> 04:04.560 complete with mission arches. 04:04.560 --> 04:06.560 It was made of adobe and painted white. 04:06.560 --> 04:08.560 They called it the Queen of the Angels. 04:08.560 --> 04:11.560 The padres from down in Mexico built it. 04:11.560 --> 04:14.560 The devout Mexicans in town still attended services there. 04:14.560 --> 04:16.560 10.05 a.m. 04:16.560 --> 04:18.560 Frank and I crossed through the courtyard. 04:18.560 --> 04:19.560 It used to be the old stable, 04:19.560 --> 04:22.560 but the Spanish priest changed all that when it became a mission. 04:22.560 --> 04:25.560 Stone masons paved the stable floor and made it a courtyard. 04:25.560 --> 04:28.560 They planted grape vines, trees, and flowers. 04:28.560 --> 04:30.560 A young priest crossed the courtyard to meet us. 04:30.560 --> 04:33.560 He'd been sitting on a stone bench reading his morning prayers 04:33.560 --> 04:35.560 as priests had done here for 172 years. 04:35.560 --> 04:38.560 We asked for Father Xavier Rojas, who communicated with us. 04:38.560 --> 04:40.560 We were told he was inside. 04:40.560 --> 04:43.560 We entered a side door. 04:43.560 --> 04:46.560 The church seemed to glow with hundreds of votive candles 04:46.560 --> 04:48.560 flickering on both sides of the altar 04:48.560 --> 04:50.560 and at the shrines throughout the church. 04:50.560 --> 04:53.560 It was empty except for a few people praying. 04:53.560 --> 04:57.560 Surrounding the main altar were several old oil paintings and gold frames. 04:57.560 --> 05:00.560 The air was heavy with a scent of advent flowers. 05:00.560 --> 05:02.560 We found Father Rojas up near the sanctuary, 05:02.560 --> 05:05.560 looking at the nativity scene. 05:05.560 --> 05:07.560 He told us about the crib. 05:07.560 --> 05:10.560 It was a $70 duplication of the scene at Bethlehem. 05:10.560 --> 05:13.560 The parishioners had taken up a collection for it 31 years ago. 05:13.560 --> 05:16.560 It was put up every year on December 22nd 05:16.560 --> 05:18.560 and taken down after the holy season. 05:18.560 --> 05:21.560 It was beautiful, except that one of the shepherds had lost an arm, 05:21.560 --> 05:25.560 the sheep was old and cracked, and the infant Jesus was missing. 05:25.560 --> 05:28.560 Father Rojas led us back into the sacristy. 05:32.560 --> 05:33.560 I'm sorry to bother you, man. 05:33.560 --> 05:36.560 All right, Father, especially now, the holiday season. 05:36.560 --> 05:38.560 We cash our checks, Father. You want to tell us what happened? 05:38.560 --> 05:40.560 Or what you think happened? 05:40.560 --> 05:43.560 I discovered the statue was missing right after the 6 o'clock mass. 05:43.560 --> 05:45.560 You say the 6? Yes. 05:45.560 --> 05:47.560 I started over to the rectory and stopped by the crib. 05:47.560 --> 05:49.560 Was the statue there before mass? 05:49.560 --> 05:51.560 I don't know, but it was there last night. 05:51.560 --> 05:53.560 How late is the church open? All night. 05:53.560 --> 05:55.560 You leave it wide open so any thief can walk in? 05:55.560 --> 05:57.560 Particularly thieves, Sergeant. 05:57.560 --> 06:00.560 You say it was there last night, Father, how late? 06:00.560 --> 06:02.560 Ten or 11 o'clock. We had confessions. 06:02.560 --> 06:03.560 No one saw it after that? 06:03.560 --> 06:05.560 One of the altar boys, he says it may have been there. 06:05.560 --> 06:07.560 He thinks it was. Did he see it? 06:07.560 --> 06:08.560 He's not sure. 06:08.560 --> 06:10.560 What's his name? Pardon me. 06:16.560 --> 06:18.560 Here's the schedule. You'll find the names for every mass there. 06:18.560 --> 06:20.560 Was there a big crowd at the 6 o'clock mass, Father? 06:20.560 --> 06:22.560 Not too many. Seven's the big one. 06:22.560 --> 06:24.560 People on their way to work. 06:24.560 --> 06:26.560 Did anyone stay after mass, did you notice? 06:26.560 --> 06:28.560 Not especially. I came back here, took off the vestments. 06:28.560 --> 06:31.560 I suppose it was ten or 15 minutes before I went back in the church. 06:31.560 --> 06:32.560 It was empty then? 06:32.560 --> 06:34.560 No, people were coming in for the 7 o'clock. 06:34.560 --> 06:37.560 Are these the altar boys, James Quinine and Joseph Heffernan? 06:37.560 --> 06:40.560 That's right. Joe's the one who mentioned it might have been there. 06:40.560 --> 06:42.560 Did you check with the other priests, Father? 06:42.560 --> 06:45.560 Before I called you. None of them knows anything about it. 06:45.560 --> 06:48.560 Just for a check on the pawn shops, how much the statue worth? 06:48.560 --> 06:49.560 In money? 06:49.560 --> 06:51.560 What's the point in pawn shops, Father? 06:51.560 --> 06:53.560 Only a few dollars. 06:53.560 --> 06:56.560 We could get a new one, but it wouldn't be the same. 06:56.560 --> 06:59.560 We've had children in the parish. They've grown up and married. 06:59.560 --> 07:01.560 It's the only Jesus they know. 07:01.560 --> 07:02.560 We understand. 07:02.560 --> 07:06.560 And we've had children who died. It was the only Jesus they knew. 07:06.560 --> 07:09.560 So many other people who come here are simple people. 07:09.560 --> 07:11.560 They wouldn't understand, Sergeant. 07:11.560 --> 07:13.560 It would be like changing the evening star. 07:13.560 --> 07:15.560 We'll do our best, Father. 07:15.560 --> 07:19.560 That's why it would mean so much to have it back for the first mass on Christmas. 07:19.560 --> 07:21.560 It's not very long, Father. 07:21.560 --> 07:22.560 Less than 24 hours. 07:22.560 --> 07:25.560 If anything turns up here, you know where to get in touch with us. 07:25.560 --> 07:26.560 Yes. 07:26.560 --> 07:28.560 Sad, isn't it? 07:28.560 --> 07:29.560 How's that? 07:29.560 --> 07:31.560 In so short a time, men learn to steal. 07:31.560 --> 07:33.560 Yes, but consider us, Father. 07:33.560 --> 07:34.560 Us? 07:34.560 --> 07:36.560 If some of them didn't, you and I'd be out of work. 07:38.560 --> 07:41.560 Ten-fifty a.m. We notified pawn shop detail. 07:41.560 --> 07:43.560 Frank and I checked out the two alder boys. 07:43.560 --> 07:47.560 The first one, James Corneen, said he knew nothing about the missing statue. 07:49.560 --> 07:51.560 The second one, Joseph Heffernan, was not at home. 07:51.560 --> 07:55.560 His father said he had a part-time job, but he'd have him get in touch with us right after lunch. 07:57.560 --> 08:00.560 By eleven-thirty a.m., we'd run out of book procedure. 08:00.560 --> 08:01.560 We had a man to find. 08:01.560 --> 08:02.560 Our only clue? 08:02.560 --> 08:03.560 He'd been to church. 08:03.560 --> 08:05.560 Eleven-thirty-three a.m. 08:08.560 --> 08:11.560 We checked the phone books for the names of religious stores in the area. 08:11.560 --> 08:13.560 Two of them were closed. 08:13.560 --> 08:14.560 We tried the third. 08:14.560 --> 08:18.560 When we got there, the only person in the store was an elderly man sitting by a table. 08:18.560 --> 08:21.560 In front of him was a large, beautifully carved chess set. 08:21.560 --> 08:24.560 We're police officers. 08:26.560 --> 08:29.560 My name's Friday. This is my partner, Frank Smith. 08:29.560 --> 08:30.560 Great to see you. 08:30.560 --> 08:31.560 Caught me in the middle of a big chess match. 08:31.560 --> 08:32.560 Where's your partner? 08:32.560 --> 08:34.560 Up in San Jose. We've been playing for years. 08:34.560 --> 08:35.560 Same match? 08:35.560 --> 08:37.560 No, just two or three months on this one. 08:37.560 --> 08:39.560 What I meant was we've been playing different matches for years. 08:39.560 --> 08:40.560 I see. 08:40.560 --> 08:42.560 You know, we do it through the mail. 08:42.560 --> 08:44.560 I send him a move, he sends me one. 08:44.560 --> 08:45.560 Must keep you on your toes. 08:45.560 --> 08:46.560 Except for the first one. 08:46.560 --> 08:48.560 I'm not going to let you get away with this. 08:48.560 --> 08:51.560 I'll send him a move, he sends me one. 08:51.560 --> 08:52.560 Must keep you on your toes. 08:52.560 --> 08:54.560 Except during the holidays, the mail gets all fiddled up. 08:54.560 --> 08:55.560 That's no good. 08:55.560 --> 08:56.560 Guess not. 08:56.560 --> 08:58.560 Slower things down, that's no good. 08:58.560 --> 08:59.560 I like to catch him off guard. 08:59.560 --> 09:00.560 You Mr. Flavin? 09:00.560 --> 09:01.560 How do you know? We never met. 09:01.560 --> 09:03.560 Your name's on the window out front. 09:03.560 --> 09:06.560 Mr. Flavin, we checked the other two religious stores in this neighborhood. 09:06.560 --> 09:07.560 They're closed. 09:07.560 --> 09:08.560 This is the best one anyway. 09:08.560 --> 09:09.560 50% European items. 09:09.560 --> 09:11.560 We're checking the stores around the mission church. 09:11.560 --> 09:12.560 For what? 09:12.560 --> 09:14.560 Statue of the Child Jesus. 09:14.560 --> 09:15.560 Do you have one we could look at? 09:15.560 --> 09:26.560 Sure. 09:26.560 --> 09:27.560 No sir, a larger one. 09:27.560 --> 09:28.560 You don't want a larger one. 09:28.560 --> 09:29.560 Unless it's for a church. 09:29.560 --> 09:31.560 That's why you want a larger one. 09:31.560 --> 09:39.560 Could we see it please? 09:39.560 --> 09:40.560 It's not my duty to butt in. 09:40.560 --> 09:44.560 But unless you live in a big place, this will make your living room all the kilter. 09:44.560 --> 09:45.560 Yes sir. 09:45.560 --> 09:47.560 Do most of the people who go to the mission church trade here? 09:47.560 --> 09:49.560 Good many of them, especially the kids. 09:49.560 --> 09:50.560 Why kids? 09:50.560 --> 09:51.560 More religious. 09:51.560 --> 09:53.560 Check on yourself, see if kids aren't more religious than you. 09:53.560 --> 09:54.560 Might be so. 09:54.560 --> 09:55.560 That's what's wrong with the world. 09:55.560 --> 09:57.560 Oh, I don't mean you're wrong with it, everybody. 09:57.560 --> 09:58.560 Yes sir. 09:58.560 --> 10:00.560 What if we could stick to the point Mr. Flavin? 10:00.560 --> 10:02.560 Sure, a lot of people from the mission church come in here. 10:02.560 --> 10:04.560 Do people ever come in and sell back a religious article? 10:04.560 --> 10:06.560 Like a prayer book or rosaries? 10:06.560 --> 10:07.560 Yes sir. 10:07.560 --> 10:08.560 Second hand you mean? 10:08.560 --> 10:09.560 Yes sir. 10:09.560 --> 10:10.560 Not since I've ever been around. 10:10.560 --> 10:11.560 It's silly. 10:11.560 --> 10:12.560 Why? 10:12.560 --> 10:14.560 Because people don't have religious articles so they can get rid of them. 10:14.560 --> 10:15.560 They happen so they can happen. 10:15.560 --> 10:19.560 But if a man had a statue and wanted to sell it, he'd come to a place like this. 10:19.560 --> 10:20.560 Sure, but he wouldn't want to sell it. 10:20.560 --> 10:21.560 He would if it was stolen. 10:21.560 --> 10:22.560 No sir. 10:22.560 --> 10:25.560 If a man was to steal a statue, he'd be crazy or something like that. 10:25.560 --> 10:28.560 The only place he'd want to go is where crazy people are. 10:28.560 --> 10:29.560 You may be right Mr. Flavin. 10:29.560 --> 10:32.560 I don't know what you fellas are looking for, but if it's somebody who stole a statue, 10:32.560 --> 10:34.560 he's crazy and you won't find him. 10:34.560 --> 10:37.560 You won't find him as long as you live, or in a million years. 10:37.560 --> 10:39.560 That should cover it. 10:39.560 --> 10:44.560 We checked religious stores out as far as Van Ness. 10:44.560 --> 10:45.560 We asked the same questions. 10:45.560 --> 10:51.560 The owners gave us the same answers, but none of them were as encouraging as Mr. Flavin. 10:51.560 --> 10:53.560 Frank and I had lunch and reported back to the office. 10:53.560 --> 10:56.560 It was 1.30 p.m. when we started into the squad room. 10:56.560 --> 10:58.560 The captain was just coming out. 10:58.560 --> 10:59.560 I just checked Frank, a lunch room. 10:59.560 --> 11:01.560 We've been out on that theft at the mission. 11:01.560 --> 11:02.560 We may get some action on the Patterson case. 11:02.560 --> 11:03.560 Did they locate him? 11:03.560 --> 11:05.560 I think he's on the bus from Sacramento. 11:05.560 --> 11:06.560 Well that means the Bakersfield police. 11:06.560 --> 11:09.560 We'll wait and see. 11:17.560 --> 11:19.560 Are one of your fellas Sergeant Freddie? 11:19.560 --> 11:20.560 He is. 11:20.560 --> 11:21.560 I'm Joe Hefner. 11:21.560 --> 11:23.560 My father said you wanted to see me. 11:23.560 --> 11:24.560 Sit down son. 11:24.560 --> 11:25.560 You didn't have to come in. 11:25.560 --> 11:26.560 A phone call would have worked. 11:26.560 --> 11:28.560 My father said to get on over. 11:28.560 --> 11:31.560 He says that any kid that uses phones is lazy. 11:31.560 --> 11:32.560 We want to ask you about this morning. 11:32.560 --> 11:34.560 You serve six o'clock mass? 11:34.560 --> 11:35.560 Yes sir. 11:35.560 --> 11:37.560 Anyway, until I get to six. 11:37.560 --> 11:39.560 You're senior and you take the early trick? 11:39.560 --> 11:40.560 Yes sir. 11:40.560 --> 11:43.560 That way if you receive communion you get to have breakfast sooner. 11:43.560 --> 11:46.560 Father Rojas says you think the statue was there before mass. 11:46.560 --> 11:49.560 I didn't look but I have a feeling it was there. 11:49.560 --> 11:50.560 A feeling? 11:50.560 --> 11:54.560 You know, how you have a feeling about something but you're not sure. 11:54.560 --> 11:56.560 Did you stay around long after mass? 11:56.560 --> 11:58.560 I put out the candles and hung up my surplus. 11:58.560 --> 12:00.560 How long would that take? 12:00.560 --> 12:01.560 About five minutes maybe. 12:01.560 --> 12:03.560 Did any of the people at mass stay on? 12:03.560 --> 12:06.560 Some moms do, especially ladies. 12:06.560 --> 12:07.560 Oh? 12:07.560 --> 12:09.560 Maybe they don't finish in time. 12:09.560 --> 12:10.560 Where else they start new prayers? 12:10.560 --> 12:11.560 I don't know. 12:11.560 --> 12:13.560 So when you left there were still some women there? 12:13.560 --> 12:15.560 No sir, that was at first. 12:15.560 --> 12:19.560 After I went back to the sacristy there was only this one man. 12:19.560 --> 12:20.560 What man? 12:20.560 --> 12:22.560 He comes at six o'clock all the time. 12:22.560 --> 12:23.560 Do you know his name? 12:23.560 --> 12:25.560 No sir, but he works down in Olive. 12:25.560 --> 12:28.560 You know, paint shop, where the paint signs. 12:28.560 --> 12:29.560 Could you describe him? 12:29.560 --> 12:30.560 Sort of medium. 12:30.560 --> 12:32.560 Wearing a suit that didn't match. 12:32.560 --> 12:33.560 Didn't match? 12:33.560 --> 12:35.560 You know, different pants than coat. 12:35.560 --> 12:36.560 How about his age? 12:36.560 --> 12:37.560 Always pretty old. 12:37.560 --> 12:38.560 Take a guess. 12:38.560 --> 12:40.560 About forty maybe. 12:40.560 --> 12:42.560 There's nothing particular about him. 12:42.560 --> 12:43.560 Then why did you notice him? 12:43.560 --> 12:44.560 I've seen him before. 12:44.560 --> 12:46.560 And the bundle I guess. 12:46.560 --> 12:47.560 The bundle? 12:47.560 --> 12:48.560 Out in front. 12:48.560 --> 12:49.560 I saw him when he was coming out. 12:49.560 --> 12:52.560 He had this bundle and he almost dropped it. 12:52.560 --> 12:53.560 How large a bundle? 12:53.560 --> 12:54.560 Hard to say. 12:54.560 --> 12:57.560 Come on son, was it large or small, the size of the statue? 12:57.560 --> 12:58.560 Not that big. 12:58.560 --> 13:02.560 Yes sir. 13:02.560 --> 13:13.560 We located the sign shop. 13:13.560 --> 13:16.560 The suspect didn't work there anymore, but we discovered his name was Claude Stroop. 13:16.560 --> 13:20.560 We found out where he lived. 13:20.560 --> 13:21.560 Two twenty five p.m. 13:21.560 --> 13:22.560 We arrived there. 13:22.560 --> 13:26.560 It was a hotel for men, mostly old men, mostly down in outers. 13:26.560 --> 13:31.560 It was called the Golden Dream. 13:31.560 --> 13:34.560 Police officers, we're looking for Claude Stroop. 13:34.560 --> 13:35.560 Hope Claude didn't get in any trouble. 13:35.560 --> 13:36.560 So do we, is he in? 13:36.560 --> 13:37.560 No. 13:37.560 --> 13:39.560 He's got room 307, you can check if you like. 13:39.560 --> 13:40.560 He'll take your word. 13:40.560 --> 13:41.560 Were you on this morning? 13:41.560 --> 13:42.560 Hm? 13:42.560 --> 13:43.560 You had the early shift. 13:43.560 --> 13:44.560 Well we don't have shifts. 13:44.560 --> 13:45.560 My uncle owns the place. 13:45.560 --> 13:46.560 I'm the shift. 13:46.560 --> 13:48.560 Did Stroop spend last night here? 13:48.560 --> 13:49.560 Came in about eleven. 13:49.560 --> 13:50.560 When did he leave this morning? 13:50.560 --> 13:51.560 Around six, maybe before. 13:51.560 --> 13:52.560 Did he come back after? 13:52.560 --> 13:53.560 Eight o'clock or so. 13:53.560 --> 13:54.560 Then left. 13:54.560 --> 13:56.560 Supposed to be back at ten. 13:56.560 --> 13:57.560 Then pulls this trick. 13:57.560 --> 13:58.560 What trick? 13:58.560 --> 13:59.560 Our program. 13:59.560 --> 14:00.560 He knows the other fellas need him. 14:00.560 --> 14:01.560 Program? 14:01.560 --> 14:02.560 You hear it at the hotel. 14:02.560 --> 14:04.560 Every Christmas we have a program. 14:04.560 --> 14:05.560 Put up a tree and sing. 14:05.560 --> 14:07.560 They're mostly old fellas. 14:07.560 --> 14:10.560 Singing like that makes them remember back when they were kids. 14:10.560 --> 14:11.560 Then Jimmy Finn comes on. 14:11.560 --> 14:12.560 Jimmy Finn? 14:12.560 --> 14:14.560 He shares number 409. 14:14.560 --> 14:17.560 His family once had a lot of money so he tells the fellas about it. 14:17.560 --> 14:19.560 Stories about Christmas. 14:19.560 --> 14:23.560 How they had this big log and his grandfather used to start it up. 14:23.560 --> 14:27.560 After dinner everybody turned over his plate and there underneath was a twenty dollar gold 14:27.560 --> 14:28.560 piece. 14:28.560 --> 14:29.560 Brand new one. 14:29.560 --> 14:31.560 When Stroop came in this morning did he have a bundle? 14:31.560 --> 14:32.560 I didn't see him come in. 14:32.560 --> 14:33.560 You said you saw him. 14:33.560 --> 14:35.560 I saw him go out after but not come in. 14:35.560 --> 14:36.560 When was that? 14:36.560 --> 14:37.560 Eight. 14:37.560 --> 14:38.560 If you want to look for a bundle I could give you his key. 14:38.560 --> 14:39.560 We don't have a warrant. 14:39.560 --> 14:40.560 It's all right. 14:40.560 --> 14:41.560 I know about police. 14:41.560 --> 14:42.560 It's all right with me. 14:42.560 --> 14:43.560 It's not with us. 14:43.560 --> 14:44.560 I didn't mean that. 14:44.560 --> 14:45.560 I just meant it was all right with me. 14:45.560 --> 14:53.560 Good King Wesson's lost look down on the feast of Stephen. 14:53.560 --> 14:55.560 When the storm ran down the beach. 14:55.560 --> 14:56.560 They were three old men. 14:56.560 --> 15:00.560 You couldn't tell how much better they would have been with Stroop singing the fourth part 15:00.560 --> 15:01.560 but somehow you didn't care. 15:01.560 --> 15:04.560 This was Christmas at the Golden Dream and it sounded fine. 15:04.560 --> 15:06.560 When the storm ran down the beach. 15:06.560 --> 15:09.560 No the frost was cruel. 15:09.560 --> 15:13.560 When the poor man came in sight. 15:13.560 --> 15:18.560 Gathering winter fuel. 15:18.560 --> 15:20.560 This is the last rehearsal. 15:20.560 --> 15:22.560 I got most of the songs down pat. 15:22.560 --> 15:23.560 Sounds pretty good. 15:23.560 --> 15:26.560 That's why it's a shame Claude isn't here. 15:26.560 --> 15:28.560 He's tenor and they need him to make it sound just right. 15:28.560 --> 15:29.560 Does Stroop have a job? 15:29.560 --> 15:31.560 No sir he used to have jobs. 15:31.560 --> 15:32.560 Not much lately though. 15:32.560 --> 15:33.560 Did he say where he was going? 15:33.560 --> 15:34.560 No he should have. 15:34.560 --> 15:35.560 The fellas need him. 15:35.560 --> 15:36.560 When he comes then will you call us? 15:36.560 --> 15:38.560 Sure and not say anything to him. 15:38.560 --> 15:39.560 That's right. 15:39.560 --> 15:41.560 I hope it's nothing serious for Claude. 15:41.560 --> 15:43.560 Tell us Trouble's ought to be over. 15:43.560 --> 15:44.560 Trouble's? 15:44.560 --> 15:45.560 Way back it wouldn't count. 15:45.560 --> 15:46.560 Tell us anyway. 15:46.560 --> 15:48.560 I don't know much about it. 15:48.560 --> 15:49.560 As much as you know now come on. 15:49.560 --> 15:51.560 It was something back where he used to live. 15:51.560 --> 15:53.560 He robbed somebody or something. 15:53.560 --> 15:54.560 What else? 15:54.560 --> 15:55.560 That's all. 15:55.560 --> 15:57.560 It was a long time ago way far back. 15:57.560 --> 16:00.560 But he forgot it all the robbing and everything. 16:00.560 --> 16:01.560 No not quite. 16:01.560 --> 16:03.560 He remembered it this morning. 16:03.560 --> 16:11.560 God rest ye merry gentlemen let nothing you dismay. 16:11.560 --> 16:19.560 For Jesus Christ our Savior was born upon this day. 16:19.560 --> 16:30.560 To save the world. 16:30.560 --> 16:33.560 We went back to the office and ran Stroop's name through R&I. 16:33.560 --> 16:35.560 If he'd been booked anywhere we had no record of it. 16:35.560 --> 16:37.560 At least not under that name. 16:37.560 --> 16:40.560 4.15 p.m. Pawn shop detail reported back. 16:40.560 --> 16:43.560 No object resembling the statue of the child Jesus had been turned in. 16:43.560 --> 16:46.560 4.18 p.m. I hung up the phone. 16:46.560 --> 16:48.560 Patterson's on that Sacramento bus. 16:48.560 --> 16:49.560 I thought Bakersfield had it. 16:49.560 --> 16:50.560 They were supposed to confirm. 16:50.560 --> 16:51.560 They did. 16:51.560 --> 16:52.560 Hop work station. 16:52.560 --> 16:53.560 What about Panning and Pryor? 16:53.560 --> 16:54.560 They're still out. 16:54.560 --> 16:55.560 Well they'll be back soon. 16:55.560 --> 16:56.560 When's the bus arrive? 16:56.560 --> 16:57.560 Six o'clock. 16:57.560 --> 16:58.560 Plenty of time for them to make it. 16:58.560 --> 16:59.560 There's more time for you. 16:59.560 --> 17:00.560 We're still in that theft. 17:00.560 --> 17:01.560 Can it wait? 17:01.560 --> 17:02.560 No. 17:02.560 --> 17:03.560 What is it? 17:03.560 --> 17:04.560 Ten, fifteen dollar statue? 17:04.560 --> 17:05.560 When's the price determine a case? 17:05.560 --> 17:08.560 I realize it's a church statue but that doesn't give it priority. 17:08.560 --> 17:09.560 It's important to them Captain. 17:09.560 --> 17:10.560 Joe and I promised to get it back. 17:10.560 --> 17:11.560 What do you got on him? 17:11.560 --> 17:12.560 Nothing much. 17:12.560 --> 17:15.560 Then why are you so big hearted? 17:15.560 --> 17:17.560 Burglary Friday. 17:17.560 --> 17:18.560 When? 17:18.560 --> 17:19.560 No. 17:19.560 --> 17:20.560 Don't say anything. 17:20.560 --> 17:21.560 No. 17:21.560 --> 17:22.560 Right. 17:22.560 --> 17:23.560 It's Claude Stroop. 17:23.560 --> 17:24.560 He just walked into the hotel. 17:24.560 --> 17:25.560 He's our suspect. 17:25.560 --> 17:26.560 Nobody's leaked to him? 17:26.560 --> 17:27.560 No. 17:27.560 --> 17:28.560 You'll keep. 17:28.560 --> 17:29.560 You can run him down tomorrow. 17:29.560 --> 17:30.560 It'll be too late then. 17:30.560 --> 17:32.560 I need it for the first mass in the morning Skipper. 17:32.560 --> 17:34.560 It's kind of a big thing for them. 17:34.560 --> 17:35.560 I'm sorry. 17:35.560 --> 17:37.560 I can't juggle details around so you can get a statue back. 17:37.560 --> 17:39.560 If there's time later on we'll do our best. 17:39.560 --> 17:40.560 Yes sir. 17:40.560 --> 17:41.560 You better get over to the station. 17:41.560 --> 17:42.560 Yes sir. 17:42.560 --> 17:44.560 Will you call Father Rojas over at the mission? 17:44.560 --> 17:45.560 Why? 17:45.560 --> 17:46.560 Tell him we're too busy to work on that statue. 17:46.560 --> 17:47.560 But we'll do it later. 17:47.560 --> 17:48.560 Tomorrow? 17:48.560 --> 17:49.560 Or when we get a chance? 17:49.560 --> 17:50.560 Why can't you call him? 17:50.560 --> 17:51.560 Well we better get over to the station. 17:51.560 --> 17:52.560 If Patterson's on that bus we don't want to miss him. 17:52.560 --> 17:53.560 All right. 17:53.560 --> 17:54.560 I'll call him. 17:54.560 --> 17:55.560 Ready? 17:55.560 --> 17:56.560 Yeah. 17:56.560 --> 17:57.560 I can send Fending and Pryor. 17:57.560 --> 17:58.560 We might as well stay on that other thing. 17:58.560 --> 17:59.560 Whenever you say Captain. 17:59.560 --> 18:00.560 You are listening to Dragnet. 18:00.560 --> 18:01.560 The authentic story of your police force in action. 18:01.560 --> 18:24.680 I'm going to get you a new 18:24.680 --> 18:26.680 police officer. 18:26.680 --> 18:31.680 We'll see you later. 18:31.680 --> 18:33.920 443 PM. 18:33.920 --> 18:36.160 We arrived at the Golden Dream Hotel. 18:36.160 --> 18:37.320 The desk clerk was right. 18:37.320 --> 18:40.200 Claude Stroop looked like a man who had had his troubles at bargain rates. 18:40.200 --> 18:42.000 Your name Claude Stroop? 18:42.000 --> 18:43.000 Yes sir. 18:43.000 --> 18:44.000 Police officers. 18:44.000 --> 18:45.120 We'd like to talk to you. 18:45.120 --> 18:46.480 I didn't do anything against the law. 18:46.480 --> 18:47.480 Honest. 18:47.480 --> 18:48.480 I didn't do anything against it. 18:48.480 --> 18:49.480 You haven't been accused. 18:49.480 --> 18:50.480 Want to take you downtown. 18:50.480 --> 18:51.480 We'd like to talk to you. 18:51.480 --> 18:52.480 No sir. 18:52.480 --> 18:53.480 I'm not going. 18:53.480 --> 18:54.480 I'm not going anywhere. 18:54.480 --> 19:01.480 You're half wrong already. 19:01.480 --> 19:08.280 515 PM. 19:08.280 --> 19:09.720 We returned Stroop for interrogation. 19:09.720 --> 19:11.240 He kept his word. 19:11.240 --> 19:13.440 He refused to talk. 19:13.440 --> 19:16.120 605 PM. 19:16.120 --> 19:17.120 Frank called Fay. 19:17.120 --> 19:18.600 Told her he'd be a little late. 19:18.600 --> 19:19.920 Stroop didn't move for a whole hour. 19:19.920 --> 19:22.920 He sat and stared but he didn't talk. 19:22.920 --> 19:26.080 640 PM. 19:26.080 --> 19:28.320 We got a final report from pawn shop detail. 19:28.320 --> 19:29.320 The shops were closed. 19:29.320 --> 19:31.320 There was no statue. 19:31.320 --> 19:32.320 Stroop still hadn't talked. 19:32.320 --> 19:34.520 Don't you ever want to go home Stroop? 19:34.520 --> 19:36.560 If I was to talk you wouldn't let me go. 19:36.560 --> 19:38.680 Depends on what you'd say. 19:38.680 --> 19:40.480 I'd say it wrong and I wouldn't get home. 19:40.480 --> 19:41.480 You won't this way either. 19:41.480 --> 19:42.480 I'd like to go. 19:42.480 --> 19:43.480 You can bet on that. 19:43.480 --> 19:47.320 This is the seventh year we had the program and I never missed a one. 19:47.320 --> 19:48.920 And a single one. 19:48.920 --> 19:50.840 Why don't you tell us what happened Stroop? 19:50.840 --> 19:52.280 How would I know you'd let me go? 19:52.280 --> 19:53.280 You wouldn't. 19:53.280 --> 19:54.280 I might as well anyway. 19:54.280 --> 19:56.480 All right what happened from Mass on? 19:56.480 --> 19:57.480 Well there was Mass. 19:57.480 --> 20:00.000 I came out and started down toward the hotel. 20:00.000 --> 20:01.000 Back up. 20:01.000 --> 20:04.160 I left my stuff at the hotel and then I picked up George's car. 20:04.160 --> 20:05.160 I didn't steal it. 20:05.160 --> 20:07.480 He said I could have it any time I wanted. 20:07.480 --> 20:09.720 Only this time I didn't ask him. 20:09.720 --> 20:11.880 I took it and started off. 20:11.880 --> 20:12.880 Well. 20:12.880 --> 20:15.120 I should have asked but I just didn't. 20:15.120 --> 20:20.440 I went over to Grand Avenue for the Christmas bulbs for this fellow sells in second hand. 20:20.440 --> 20:22.400 It was coming out of the lot but I did it. 20:22.400 --> 20:23.400 Yeah. 20:23.400 --> 20:25.280 The bumper must have caught the other car. 20:25.280 --> 20:28.560 Didn't leak too big a dent but there was this long scratch. 20:28.560 --> 20:31.200 I got out and tried to wipe it off with my handkerchief. 20:31.200 --> 20:32.600 You know spit on it like. 20:32.600 --> 20:35.720 It only didn't do no good. 20:35.720 --> 20:38.120 I didn't think anybody saw. 20:38.120 --> 20:40.560 I don't know how you fellas found out about it. 20:40.560 --> 20:42.560 I'll check out the records. 20:42.560 --> 20:43.560 Right. 20:43.560 --> 20:46.600 Stroop we didn't bring you down here to talk about that. 20:46.600 --> 20:47.600 We didn't? 20:47.600 --> 20:48.600 No. 20:48.600 --> 20:49.600 There's a statue missing from the church. 20:49.600 --> 20:51.760 The statue of the child Jesus. 20:51.760 --> 20:52.760 You mean I took it? 20:52.760 --> 20:54.040 You took a bundle out of church. 20:54.040 --> 20:55.040 Yes sir. 20:55.040 --> 20:57.600 That was my other pants for the program tonight. 20:57.600 --> 21:00.280 I had a place sold up and there was a button on it. 21:00.280 --> 21:02.560 You can check. 21:02.560 --> 21:06.080 I wouldn't take a statue. 21:06.080 --> 21:08.240 I don't think you would either. 21:08.240 --> 21:10.360 He's cleared out of records. 21:10.360 --> 21:11.360 One hole. 21:11.360 --> 21:12.360 For the program? 21:12.360 --> 21:13.360 You mean it's all right? 21:13.360 --> 21:14.360 Good night Stroop. 21:14.360 --> 21:15.360 Good night. 21:15.360 --> 21:20.120 Merry Christmas. 21:20.120 --> 21:25.320 Why too? 21:25.320 --> 21:29.560 I don't know. 21:29.560 --> 21:39.920 We could stay and work on it tonight. 21:39.920 --> 21:40.920 Wouldn't do any good. 21:40.920 --> 21:41.920 We won't find it. 21:41.920 --> 21:42.920 I don't think so. 21:42.920 --> 21:45.840 Tell you kid and the priest. 21:45.840 --> 21:46.840 Build his hope set. 21:46.840 --> 21:57.600 Might as well go tell them now. 21:57.600 --> 22:05.360 Merry Christmas. 22:05.360 --> 22:06.920 Seven twenty seven p.m. 22:06.920 --> 22:08.920 We found Father Rojas. 22:08.920 --> 22:12.320 Fright told him how it was, that we couldn't get the statue back by morning but that we'd 22:12.320 --> 22:13.840 keep trying during the week. 22:13.840 --> 22:15.400 He said he understood. 22:15.400 --> 22:17.560 We told him we had to get on. 22:17.560 --> 22:23.840 As Frank and I started to leave, the doors at the main entrance to the church opened. 22:23.840 --> 22:30.280 It was a good two hundred feet away. 22:30.280 --> 22:34.800 It was hard to be sure but it looked like a small boy drawing a bright red wagon behind 22:34.800 --> 22:39.920 him. 22:39.920 --> 22:43.360 When he got closer you could see he was no bigger than a pint of milk. 22:43.360 --> 22:51.240 It was a luminous eyed little Mexican boy with a face as young as yesterday. 22:51.240 --> 22:56.480 The priest seemed to know him. 22:56.480 --> 22:57.480 Paquito? 22:57.480 --> 23:01.640 In the back of the wagon was the missing statue of the child Jesus. 23:01.640 --> 23:04.360 He picked it up gently and walked up to the priest. 23:04.360 --> 23:05.600 Father Rojas? 23:05.600 --> 23:10.920 He just stood there looking up at Father Rojas. 23:10.920 --> 23:13.400 Paco Mendoza, a boy from the parish. 23:13.400 --> 23:14.400 Ask him where he found it. 23:14.400 --> 23:15.400 Donde lo encontraste? 23:15.400 --> 23:16.400 No lo encontré, lo cogí esta mañana. 23:16.400 --> 23:17.400 He didn't find it, he took it. 23:17.400 --> 23:18.400 Why? 23:18.400 --> 23:19.400 Porque? 23:19.400 --> 23:20.400 Todos los años Paquito rezo por un camisito rojo. 23:20.400 --> 23:21.400 Este año Paquito rezo al niño Jesus. 23:21.400 --> 23:22.400 Yo voy a buscarlo. 23:22.400 --> 23:45.680 He says all through the years he's prayed for a red wagon. 23:45.680 --> 23:48.160 This year he prayed to the child Jesus. 23:48.160 --> 23:59.440 He promised that if he got the wagon the child Jesus would have the first ride in it. 23:59.440 --> 24:03.080 He wants to know if the devil will come and take him to hell. 24:03.080 --> 24:06.640 That's your department, Father. 24:06.640 --> 24:08.760 No el diablo. 24:08.760 --> 24:13.400 Eses amas a Paquito mucho. 24:13.400 --> 24:14.960 We crossed over to the sanctuary. 24:14.960 --> 24:19.560 With the help of Father Rojas the young boy replaced the infant Jesus in its rightful 24:19.560 --> 24:21.760 place, the crib in the nativity scene. 24:21.760 --> 24:28.480 Frank and I could have been wrong, but the small plaster statues seem to approve. 24:28.480 --> 24:39.280 Mary, Joseph, the wise men, Gaspar, Melchior, Daldazar, the old shepherd, the young shepherd, 24:39.280 --> 24:40.280 the peasant. 24:40.280 --> 24:43.280 They all seem to approve. 24:43.280 --> 24:51.960 Vuelve a tu casa, Paquito. 24:51.960 --> 24:53.960 Priest told the boy to go home. 24:53.960 --> 25:07.160 He took hold of his wagon and started the long walk out of the church. 25:07.160 --> 25:13.320 There wasn't much we could say. 25:13.320 --> 25:14.920 There wasn't much to say. 25:14.920 --> 25:18.160 We just stood there and watched him go. 25:18.160 --> 25:33.000 Halfway up he turned to look back and he went on out. 25:33.000 --> 25:35.080 I don't understand how he got that wagon today. 25:35.080 --> 25:37.520 Don't kids wait for Santa Claus anymore? 25:37.520 --> 25:39.560 It isn't from Santa Claus. 25:39.560 --> 25:42.840 The firemen fix old toys and give them to new children. 25:42.840 --> 25:44.840 Paquito's family, they're poor. 25:44.840 --> 25:45.840 Are they, Father? 25:45.840 --> 26:08.740 They're really hungry, Fa quan. 26:38.740 --> 26:48.780 The story you have just heard is true. 26:48.780 --> 26:56.420 The names and locations were changed. 26:56.420 --> 27:01.700 You have just heard Dragnet, a series of authentic cases from official files. 27:01.700 --> 27:08.700 All advice comes from the Office of Chief of Police W.H. Parker, Los Angeles Police Department.