 You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned the burglary details. In a year's time, a burglar has taken approximately $80,000 in money and jewelry. None of his victims can describe him. Your job? Get him. Dragman, the documented drummer of an actual crime. While the next 30 minutes in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, you will travel step-by-step on the side of the law to an actual case transcribed from official police files. From beginning to end. From crime to punishment. Dragnet is the story of your police force in action. It was Tuesday, July 10th. It was hot in Los Angeles. We're working a day watch out of burglary detail. My partner, Frank Smith, the boss is counting wisdom. My name's Frank. It was 8.02 a.m. when I got to room 45. Burglary. That you, Joe? Yeah. How about that fight, Lance? I don't know. Did you see it on Channel 4? No. I started a watch at the set when I... Thank you, Coupe. I don't know, Joe. Picture got all fuzzy and started a while. But, you know, like, when an airplane goes over, it's been a set and a train over here. The set's been acting up lately. I thought it might be something along the area, so I figured I'd take a look at it. Got the ladder out, got up on the roof. Sure enough, one of the wires on the thing was off. Just hanging by a little bit of the rubber coating. Trying back down to get the wire cutters to fix it. Couldn't find them. How to use scissors to strip the insulation off the wire. Got the wire all fixed to put back on, then I couldn't find the pliers to get the nut off the area. Left all through the house. No, sir. What'd you do? Nothing I could do. Try to get the nut off with the scissors. Broke them. Finally went back into the house to listen to the radio. The fight was over. Yeah, I only went for our rounds. Yeah, I found that out. Got the radio on just when the announcer was given the last commercial. And saying me had it taught. Oh, man, again? Yeah, I told I was going to buy a whole new set of tools. The first time I saw the kids with one of them, I was going to raise the roof. It must have made her happy. Yeah, it did. They tell me a mark about them only being kids. Instead of I wanted to keep the tools out of their hands, I should put them in a place where they can't reach them. It's only one trouble, Joe. Oh, that's sad. With Mike and Stacey, there isn't such a place. I know what you mean. It's a really good fight, though. It's too bad you missed it. Yeah. Right in. Yeah, it's good. Right here with you. Right. Skip it. What's up? Sit down. Just going to call from the wheelchair division. That string of burglaries I've had out there. They can't spray the man to give this thing a time. It looks like it's going to take a turn at four. So I'm putting you two on it. Here's all the crime reports on. Looks like you're a little busy. What are the reports here? What's he taking on? My name's Jory. He uses cellulite strip to get into the houses. Not much unusual about that. Yeah. According to the reports, he's been hitting around 3.30 to 6.30 after noon. Yeah. He evidently rings the bell for us to see if there's anybody in the house. And then if there isn't, he uses cellulite to open the door. Goes through the house, then leaves by the back door. What's this big here about the glass of milk? Well, that's the one part of his ammo. There's snow. It seems every place he goes into, he has a glass of milk before he leaves. And he'll pull some in glass? Haven't found any yet. Seems to wipe the glass clean before he leaves. The stats office cannot put anything on the ammo? Nothing has been checked out. The leads they gave us didn't know any place. What about the victims? Have you ever seen a guy? No, not good. A couple of them caught glimpses of them leaving the house. Didn't realize at the time that he'd just come from their place. How about a description? Everybody that's seen him tells a different story. Some have him tall and thin, others have him short and husky. Some have him dark, others light. Anybody's yes. Oh. That makes it easier. You've been working in any one area, Skipper? Yeah. According to those reports, he works around in here. In here. He works for the Pico on the south. The Brad or Robertson on the west. A lot of areas, Skipper. Yeah. How about health? Much as you need. Metro will give you as many men as they can spare. I said you could probably count on ten teams. Well, we should be able to patrol in here. You're pretty well with him. He had more than one place a day? Yeah. Sometimes there are four. It depends on how much time it takes him to go through a place. Well, a little works later than six o'clock. No, I don't think we know. He's pretty smart. More people on the streets that time of day. He's less likely to be noticing. That's probably the way he figures it. I still don't think I get this milk for a little. Yeah. It's a weird one. Do you have it every place he goes? Seems to. The owner comes home and finds all the money and jewelry in the place gone and empty glass on the table in the living room. Living room? Yeah. In the living room. Evidently pours the milk right after he gets out of the house, then carries it around with him while he works. He finishes it up before he leaves. It was most of her found those rings, you know, when you put a glass down on the table. Found them all over the house. All of our little folks at all. No, they can print his gun over the places completely. Everything they found has a right to be there, along with the family and friends. $8,000. How about the pawn shop detail? They turn up anything? No, I think none of the jewelry is turned up as far as we can tell. Looks like a gem, huh? It is. It's all yours. Really? Let me get started on it right away. You two stay on this until you clean it up. Right, Skipper? Any ideas where you're going to start? Only one place. The neighborhood where he works. Yeah. We don't know him. Maybe he'll come to us. Frank and I went over the reports. In general, the operation was the usual type. The use of a celluloid stripped into the house wasn't moved. The suspect operated during those times when detection was least likely. He never operated in the rain. All in all, with the exception of the milk drinking, the case could have been a hundred others. Frank and I spent the rest of the afternoon talking to the victims who had seen the burglars. They were all sure that the man they'd seen was the one we wanted, but their description varied from each other. All the victims had been shown mug books, but failed to identify the suspect. They called Metro Division and asked them to give us as many radio units as possible to cover the area. They assigned ten cars to the detail. Frank and I covered the entire area in our time. Wednesday, September 5th, two months have passed during which time the burglars hit only two houses. In spite of the heavy patrol action in the area, he got away safely in both instances. 5.45 p.m. Looks like another day shot, huh? Yeah, another 15 minutes to go. Well, one thing anyway is calm down, Joe. He's gonna make $100,000 this year. Fairness, right? Yeah? Put the head down on the left. White House? Yeah, I can see. Well, pull over here. We'll walk down. Right. Well, you can get on my side. All right. Still working. Yeah, probably a double lock on that door, huh? Said it like we'll work there. Have a little trouble, mister? Huh? Looks like you have a little trouble getting that door open. Oh, yeah, I lost the key. You're police officers? Yeah, that's right. Oh, happy to know you're on the job for taking my house, you know? Sure, appreciate it. What if we can see your identification? I beg your pardon? Your identification? What if we can see it? Well, it's a matter. Don't you believe me? Did I live in this house? I did nothing wrong with you showing it to us, is there? Oh, of course not. If you look like I left my wallet in the house, what's that gadget you were trying to get into the house with there? Oh, this? Right. A piece of set of light. I read about it someplace. I happened to have it. Turn around. What do you talk to the street? Yeah, sure. What do you want? What's the address of the house you live in? The address? Yeah, sir. You guys still don't believe I live here, do you? The address. What is it? 1200 Block in Allendale. What's your name? Anderson? Maybe you can explain why the name of the mailbox is Radcliffe, huh? Oh, yeah. Sure, I can explain. You see, I'm just visiting here. Summer vacation just out here a couple of weeks. All right, Mr. Stan still. Hey, wait. What's going on? You got no right to ask, though. How about this wallet? Is it yours? Yeah. Oh, come on. Give it back now. Let's take a look here. You said your name was Anderson, is that right? Well, yeah, but I can explain that. Yeah, I hope so. I'm going to be a little involved, though. Oh, what's wrong? Two things. Wrong house and wrong identification. Frank and I took the suspect back to the city hall for interrogation. Although he gave us the name Jack Anderson, Hall's identification boy, the name Robert Red Neal. We ran the name through our eye. Neal had several previous arrests on burglary charges. According to the record, there were no wants on him at the time. 6.20 p.m. Frank and I questioned Neal. All right, Neal, come on off it. Okay, so you know I don't live in the house. It looks like one I do live in. I just made a mistake. That's all. I build all these houses out here so they look... No, look, Neal. Don't ask us to believe that one. We need to believe anything but the truth. And I'm telling you that. Sure. Now, what about your record? What about it? A lot of burglary charges. All right, I did it a little time. Now, what's that for? I'm going straight now. We'll still call from up with the story to tell why you were trying to get into that house. I told you. I thought I belonged to a friend of mine. What's his name? I don't remember. You like milk, Neal? Huh? You like milk? Look, I don't get this. What are you trying to prove? Just answer the question. Do you like milk? I can take it or leave it alone. I'm a big boy now. Sometimes I drink coffee. It's been a while. A couple of weeks? Why? Where were you before you got here? Up North. Where up North? Well, in Sacramento. What'd you do up there? A few odd jobs. Look, if you guys are going to book me to do it, let's get this yak over there. A couple of things we want to settle first, Neal. What? How long were you up North? I guess it's been about six, seven months. Seven months. You got any way of proving that? Look, why should I have to prove anything? You guys figure you got a rap you can stick me with. Okay, try it. Book me in. Look, don't press me. Can you prove you up North for the last seven months? I shouldn't be in the trouble at all. Who do we talk to? The sheriff up there. He had me in the can. After waiting for two months, the one suspect we were able to turn had an alibi that we couldn't shake. Frank and I went back to rolling stakeout. The burglaries continued. Evidently, the burglar was getting more and more reckless. The police cars in the area were acting as less of a deterrent to his activities. In two weeks, he looted 16 homes. A week of bad weather brought his operation to a standstill, but as soon as the rain cleared, he went back to work. It was Tuesday, October 9th. We got a call from an elderly woman who said that she had information regarding the burglaries. Frank and I drove over to talk to her. Won't you sit down, officers? Thank you, ma'am. Yes, ma'am. But Liz Blair, you said on the phone that you had something to tell us about the burglaries. Yes, I have. Would you like a little something to eat? Sandwich, coffee? I just took some cookies out of the oven. Maybe you'd like some of those and back to me. No, ma'am. Frank's just so enough. You just tell us what you know, please. Oh, hell, I feel a little silly about his officer. At first, I didn't think I'd say anything about it, but then I got the thing and I figured it might be better if I did tell you. Yes, ma'am. It's about the burglaries, you know. Yes, ma'am. That's what you said on the phone. Phone? Oh, yes. You mean when I called you? Yes, ma'am. But would you please tell us what it is that you have here? Of course. I guess I'm just being a coward about it, not telling you right out between you hear the whole story. You'll understand. Yes, ma'am. You see, I went out to the store yesterday afternoon. Had a sale on frozen foods down the supermarket. Wonderful bargains. Fruit juice at 12 cents a can. Prices on vegetables, you just wouldn't believe it. We understand it, ma'am. Now, how about the burglaries? Oh, yes. Well, I went to the market about 2.30. That's when I left the house. Normally, I meet my husband afterward. He brings me home. Only yesterday, he didn't. Oh, huh. He had some work to do at his office. He's in real estate. Yes, ma'am. Well, yesterday, he didn't bring me home. I caught a ride with that niceness's cutting to live through doors down. She brought me home yesterday. I got here about 3.45. Remember looking for a man for a clock when I came in? That's for there. Yes, ma'am. Clock has always kept perfect time when pleasant, lovely things. That's very nice. Isn't it, though, the gold work on the face? Oh, ma'am, we all like to be rude, but if he just tells us what you know about the burglaries... Well, certainly. You see, I came here at the house and there he was. Now? The burglar. There he was in the hall. He didn't have to ask for milk. He was such a nice looking boy. He just stood there every minute drinking the milk. But what did he do when he saw you? He put the milk down on the telephone table and then he started to run to the back door. I told him to stop. Did he? Not first. Then I told him that my husband was out in the back, out in the garage. He stopped then. Go on, ma'am. I asked him what he was doing in my house. What did he say? Nothing really. He just stammered around and said that maybe he made a mistake. I told him what I guess he had, bringing into somebody's house. Just terrible officer. I just scared the wits out of me. Yes, ma'am. I started to tell him how he should be ashamed of himself receiving from other people. I really told him. I said, you know, we haven't got that much that we can have people like you come in here and steal. Then I picked up the phone and started to call the police. That's when he started to cry. You started to cry? Yes. Just like our little boy. He put his hands up through strings and tears to scream down his cheeks. What happened then, Mrs. Boy? Well, when I saw him cry, he looked so small, like such a little boy that I went over to and comforted him. You didn't get in touch with the police, ma'am? Well, no. Well, I suppose I should have, but I didn't. When I got the boy calmed down, he told me that he didn't know what he'd do. His family found out about it. He told me about his mother and how she died when he was just a baby and how his sister raised him. He said, she was just a couple of years older than him. I asked about his father, and he said that his father was a drunk. That he had to bring in money the family needed. He said that his sister was sick, bad, harsh, and that the shock of his being a registered killer. Well, now, I asked the officers, what could I do? Oh, what did you do, my boy? I told him to sit down. I wanted to talk to him. He went out in the kitchen, and I asked him if he was hungry. You know, growing boy and all. I thought he might like a sandwich or something. He said that he didn't want anything to eat, but he said he would like glass of milk, so I poured him one. Well, he said that you'd talked with him? Yes. I thought that maybe I could talk him out of continuing this way, speaking. I asked him if he had a job, something to earn an honest living. He told me that he'd tried to find work after school, but anything he'd get just didn't pay him enough. He tried to get along on the money, but it just wasn't enough. Medicine for his sister and all. Then there was his father, horrible man. But what did he say about his father? Well, he told me all about him, how he drinks and causes trouble, spends what little money they have on liquor. Uh-huh. This boy told you his name, ma'am? Not at first. He said he didn't want me to turn him in. I told him that I wouldn't, and then he said he was Bob, Bob Allison. He told you where he lived? Not exactly. He said someplace out on Eastwell, Sanford. I got the idea that he wasn't too proud of his home. Can you say that, right, ma'am? Uh-huh. How about a description, ma'am? What do you look like? Well, now that we think. Well, I'd say he was young, about 17, maybe 18. Such a young man would do something like this. How tall would you say he was, ma'am? Tall? Oh, I guess as tall as you are. Maybe just a teeny bit taller. That make him about 60? Yes, I guess so. How about his build, ma'am? Oh, nice broad shoulders. You got no idea how I felt when I thought about this boy being afraid. It's terrible. Right, ma'am. So would you say he was heavy or slight? About how much would you say weight? No, I'm not. I'm bad at guessing people's weight. It'd be difficult to say. Well, ma'am, would you say he was as heavy as I am? Yes, about your weight. Uh-huh. How about the color of his hair? Light, nice, blonde hair. Then a little wave right here in front, blue eyes. Looked like such a little boy who would cry. Yes, ma'am. Was there any unusual bottom that you might have noticed? Scars, moles, anything like that? No, not a thing. How about the way he talked? Anything unusual there, ma'am? Uh-huh. Sorry. How about his clothes, Mrs. Blair? How was he dressed? Well, pair of slacks, a white shirt, no tie. A button was missing from his shirt. Poor boy. Probably hasn't got anyone to take care of his clothes. Had on a school sweater. You know the kind of the things you get when they're going to graduate? Had the initial of a school on it and no stripes on the seam. Yes, ma'am. What was the initial on the sweater? There wasn't one. It had been taken off. I could tell if there had been one, though, because a few of the threads were still in the wall. How about the collar this way? Brown. The dark brown yellow stripes. Remember, Mrs. Blair? Yes? The glass of milk. The boy drank from the glass. Has it been washed yet? I thought you'd ask about that. No, I stepped aside for you. You have it now, ma'am? Yes, it's in the kitchen. My husband said you'd want it. He was hopping mad when he heard about it just about raised the roof right off the house. I wonder if we could see that glass. Of course. It's right out here in the kitchen. Fine. There it is on the green board. Anybody touched since the board? I don't think so. My husband might have, but I don't think he did. He was quite adamant about me not washing it until he came. Mrs. Blair, this happened last night. How was it you waited until this morning to report it? Well, at first I believed the boy. Really thought that it was just circumstances that made him steal. I felt so sorry for him when he broke down and cried. Right here. Believe him. Give him every chance. I thought that time I let him go. I thought that if I'd like to do some good, so is the new beginning. When I told my husband about it, like I said, he was pretty sore. I talked about the young thief. We never had any children of our own and I felt so sorry for the boy. I guess my husband couldn't understand. When Bob, that's his name. When Bob said he was sorry, I believed him and let him go. Just let him walk right out of the house. My husband got home and I told him. He said to call you. I tried to talk to Sam. That's my husband. I don't make him understand, but he insisted. And then this morning, of course, I agreed with him and so I called you. Well, what was that about? Bob stole my watch. At 5 a.m., Frank and I went back to the office. We ran the name Bob and Robert Allison through R&R. There was no record on anyone answering his description. We got out a local broadcast and an APB on him. Mrs. Blair went over the mug books but was unable to identify the boy. Frank got in touch with the Board of Education and asked for the name of the school using the colors brown and gold. We told him that it would take a little time to check, but they'd call us back. We notified the cars from Metro of the new developments and gave them the description of the boy. A check of the phone books for the name met of us nothing. Layton Prince was sent out to the home of Enid Blair to get the fingerprints of she and her husband. When checking over the empty glass found in the Blair home, besides the prints of Mr. and Mrs. Blair, Dean Bergman came up with a partial unidentified print. It was not enough for classification, but he told us that if we turned the burglar, he could tell us if we had the right man or not. At 8 p.m., Frank and I cruise the area the burglar had been working in. We were in constant contact with the other 10 cars in the field. Say you're still working in this neighborhood, Joe? Well, we got no choice till we get otherwise. Money about the Blair woman, isn't it? What? You know, train the kid loose. Sure must have thrown a show. Yeah, yeah, yeah. What time you got? 4.38. Got another hour and a half. Frank? Yeah, Joe. Up ahead there in the corner? Yeah, a brown sweater could be. Alright, let's go. He sees us making a break through that yard there. Hold it up there. Here's something. It's going right after Rod. I'll try and hit him off. Alright, watch it. Joe, you see him? No, we missed him someplace. Gotta get back to the car, right? Unit 1K80 to Unit 2R1. Unit 1K80 to Unit 2R1. Come in, please. Suspect WMA 17 to 19 years old, wearing tan trousers and brown and gold sweater, fleeing on foot. Last scene going east on Chalmers Drive at Corner of Spalding Avenue. Please block at Chalmers and Hayworth. Repeat, please block at Chalmers and Hayworth. Roger, 1K80. Unit 2R7, come in, please. Unit 2R7 to 1K80, go ahead. You get the description alright? Yeah. Want to cover Barrow's Drive and Hay Street? Repeat, Barrow's Drive and Hay Street. Over. Roger, 1K80. Units 2R2, 2R3, 2R4, 2R5 and 2R6. Converge on area adjacent to Chalmers and Spalding. Repeat. Converge on Corner of Chalmers and Spalding. Unit 2R20 will direct operation. 1K80 out. Blocked in. Let's fight. We knew the suspect was in the blockaded area, with the units from Metro Division blocking the street. There was no escape for him. Frank and I walked down Spalding Avenue. Down the street we could see Unit 2R20 getting into position. Sergeant Masters was directing the operations from there. The search went on. 6.40 PM, we still hadn't found him. At each house, we notified the people to be on the lookout for the suspect. In the event they saw him, they were instructed to call police headquarters. They, in turn, would contact Sergeant Masters and appropriate action could be taken. 7.10 PM, we just about covered the entire area. What do you figure, Joe? Yeah, I could have gotten that. It's gotta be in here someplace. Two more blocks to go, not much cover. He hasn't been sitting still. He's probably been moving, too. Yeah. How about that garage back there? Check it. Big place, Joe. Looks like a workshop. Yeah. Wonder who it belongs to. Imagine that house over there, don't you? It's where the wires lead. Wait a minute. What's that? Broken padlock. This must be where he is. Not easy. Ah, young fella, come on out. What do you think? There's no other door. Come on. All right, come on, boy. Give it up. We know you're in here. How about the lights, Joe? Yeah, I got them. Figure inside, and it looks pleasant places. You could be hiding here. You want to check over there, back of those lanes. I'll take this side. Right. Don't sign up over here. How about you? No. I'm at that balcony up there. The wooden paint cans, you think? Yeah. Somebody could hide up there. All right, I'll take a look. Take it easy, Joe. All right, give it up, fella. You got no place to go. Watch it, Joe. Let's go. Go, Frank. Yeah, Joe, I got it. Go away. I watch it, Frank. I see. I didn't mean to cut it. I told you to leave me alone. I told you. All right, come on. Get up, you. How about it, Frank? You on? Oh, Joe, just to cut it, isn't that fine? Let me go. I didn't mean it. I got scared. I didn't mean it. I don't know what I'll do if my family finds out. Yeah, sure. You're going to tell us about your sister, the one who was sick, and your drunken father? Huh? Well, are we going to get the full treatment here, the same one you gave Ms. Blair? She told you, huh? Yeah, she told us. What's your name, boy? Acons. Robert Acons. Guess you got me tagged for the jobs, huh? Yeah, we got you tagged. How's the deal? I thought for sure I had her figured. Tell me the deal all the way around. We should have started it. Oh, my God, it was a lot of cheap jewelry and a little money. Well, you mean cheap jewelry. I'll report you to a little better, 80,000. 80,000? That's a laugh. A lot of costume junk, a little money. 80,000. Somebody's been giving you a snow job. When I didn't throw away, I still got cheap costume junk, that's all. All right, Aiken, let's go. Yeah, I should have known not to trust that Blair woman. I should have known. I was caught before, you know, a couple of times. All right. Yeah, a couple of times. Let me go. I started to cry. I'm getting that story about my sister. Let me go. I was a cryin', I really did it, though. As soon as I started the ball, they'd turn me loose. Good gimmick, huh? Cryin'? Yeah, sure. Don't try it on the jury, it won't work. The story you have just heard was true. The names were changed to protect the innocent. Robert Charles Aiken was filed on and found guilty of 12 counts of second-degree burglary. He was released to the youth authority for parolement and possible rehabilitation. Adjusted dragnet, a series of authentic cases from official files. Technical advice comes from the Office of Chief of Police W. H. Parker, Los Angeles Police Department. Technical Advisors Captain Jack Donahoe, Sergeant Marty Wien, Sergeant Vance Brasich. Heard tonight were Herb Ellis, June Whitley, Jack Prussian. Script by John Robinson.