 The Equitable Life Assurance Society presents this is your FBI This is your FBI The official broadcast from the files of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Presented transcribed as a public service by the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States and the Equitable Society's representatives in your community You've heard people say that money is the root of all evil But it's a fact that money properly handled can be the source of much good Properly managed it can protect your wife and children against the future It can assure your youngsters of a college education. It can help you own your own home free and clear It can provide for a comfortable independent old age. I say money properly handled Most of us don't know how to handle it, but there is one man who can show you how he's your local representative of the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States In about 14 minutes I want to tell you more about your local equitable representative and how he may help you to find security and peace of mind Tonight the subject of our FBI file auto theft its title the hot sedan During the past quarter century the automobile has become a big business for the factory the service station the repairman and the criminal Figures compiled by your FBI from the reports of local law enforcement agencies show that last year alone nearly a hundred and ninety 7,000 cars were stolen More than the total motor vehicle registration of Minneapolis New Orleans or Cincinnati Last year auto theft was up 15% Accounted for a high of a hundred ninety million dollars worth of stolen property and was one of America's most profitable criminal activities To combat this motorized crime wave Conferences are being held during the fall of 1952 at key points throughout the nation under the auspices of your FBI Attending our representatives of state and local police various motor vehicles departments and the National Automobile Thief Bureau a non-profit agency Maintained by America's insurance companies as well as special agents of the FBI Here master strategy is being developed to make universal the kind of techniques and cooperation Which has shown in tonight's case Can run the car thief off the roads and into the penitentiary Tonight's FBI file begins on a suburban highway near a large eastern city The road is deserted save for two cars streaking south toward the state line The leading vehicle is a Cadillac sedan Current model light green and color Directly behind it a 1948 Mercury convertible black with natural canvas top Both cars are proceeding at a speed in considerable excess of the legal limit Approximately three miles north of the boundary. Their progress is observed by two troopers occupying a highway patrol car Will you look at them hold your hat Chuck here we go Drivers of the offending vehicles react to the red light warning only by increasing their speed still further looks like they want to race Mac yeah, they're doing 90 easy the cat has out of state plates driver might be hot You will be when we catch him approximately three quarters of a mile from the state boundary a gravel surfaced road Intersects the highway the driver of the green sedan Extinguishes his lights and turns sharply to the right the Mercury acting as decoy Continues down the road and to tails Chuck. I say the cat. What do I the poorly surfaced steep graded road Runs along the edge of a precipice Creating extremely hazardous driving conditions. However, the green sedan running without lights Maintains a high level of speed Too high Jack is leaving the road over the cliff When state troopers Charles Humboldt and Orin McHenry reached the spot where their query has left the road The green sedan is wedged between two boulders near the bottom of a 50-foot ravine. It has burst into flame Oh, hi Mac Then our Cadillac What's left of it boys just towed it in you're ready for the junk heap. Yeah How about the driver? He's dead Chuck. Oh, it's too bad. You look like just a kid. Yeah, I'm 18 19 any identification No, not sure I got a partial print off the rear view mirror. Oh, good deal. I'll drop it off the FBI office my way uptown You get a report on the plate chat. Yeah, they check with a motor number, but Yeah, but what? Registration shows a 52 Cadillac sedan. All right color beige could have been a repaint. Not unless they stripped it clean Look here See Sight it's a new car Might be hot at that kid sure wasn't running for his health. I'll check it right away Chuck You better have the boys mark this wreck do not disturb till they've gone over it. We'll do 32 hours later at the local FBI field office State trooper Orin McHenry receives a full report on the green sedan and its driver from special agent Jim Taylor Well, here's the way it shapes up Mac car was stolen all the numbers been recut dies don't match the company We never get the old number Jim. Ah, no such luck. How'd they grab on to a registration? Well, maybe a pretty big operation. They're probably buying up wrecks and switching the papers It's gonna be pretty hard to identify them sure is of course if we can turn up the owner He may have some special way of spotting his own car Not very likely though considering the condition this one's in any leads. Yeah, I Hill view over the state line report of the theft of green Cadillac His name is John Rinsler. I'm going out seeing this afternoon. What about my fingerprints report in yet. Yeah came back this morning. Oh, that's It is Driver's name was Robert Emmett Watkins called Bobby Watkins born in Cincinnati, Ohio March 18th 1934 Served four months as juvenile in Cincinnati petty larceny year-and-a-half a girl at all Disappeared after that no family no forwarding address. No trace Since that office is still working on it 1934 just 18 start him young these days 18 Mac we might pick up something from selective service. Do you think a kid mixed up in a thing like this would register? Could be his bosses wouldn't want investigators on this trail. You figure this for a ring Don't you Jim big time operation is beginning to look that way We've had over a dozen reports in the last three weeks all involving registration switches in the same tri-state area Have you figured out their method of operation? No, not yet. That's what I'm hoping to find out at hill view Wreck the total loss. It's criminal. Mr. Taylor. That's what it is criminal that store should be prosecuted store. Yes Yes, Mason's it's all their fault. That's where it happened Told my wife she shouldn't go to that sale wouldn't listen the vehicle was stolen while your wife was shopping Of course, don't think she stood there and let them take it. Do you like she left the key in the ignition? Naturally, naturally, that's how they work the attendant Park's the car you pick it up turn in the ticket when you drive out Had your wife lost her ticket certainly not when she emerged from the store burdened with packages I might add the car was gone simply gone. Now. This was at the local branch of Mason's always certainly Never go into the city too much traffic too hot on the nerve. I see well. Thank you mr. Rinsley You helped a lot now about your car. Have you some way of identifying it? Of course license number I'm afraid they won't help isn't there some other way what I mean is some purely personal way green sedan standard model Nothing special or can you think of anything else? Wait a minute There is one thing yes, sir My wife has a peculiar habit fold sir registration certificate into a little ward sticks it behind the ashtray Might still be there. Yes, sir. It might we'll check it Tell a type room Taylor. Hi, Jim. They're rang me through to you. Oh, hi, Mac. How'd you make up? It's Rensselaer's car. All right from the certificate wanted up behind the ash receiver. He's never touched it It's pretty charred but the FBI lab should be able to bring it out. All right. That's fine It's the first break we've had. Yeah, now here's something else now Chuck Humboldt just came back from the local office of the National Auto theft bureau They've had 15 stolen cars reported as lifted from department store parking lots during the last couple of months All in suburban branches all on sale days. That's great. Now. We've got evidence and in them all Yeah, all we need is a line on the gang. Hold on. Maybe we got that too Oh, our Washington field office is sending through a report on our selective service check right now Mac listen to this Watkins was registered with his draft board and he was due to report for medical next week He's living at 318 River Street. That sounds hot Jim. You gotta check it. Yeah, I'll meet you there Better try the doorbell again Jim. Yeah Oh, hello. Hello gentlemen. Good afternoon. You come about the room for rent This isn't about a room man. Oh, we're looking for a man named Watkins Bobby Watkins. Yes. Does he live here? Maybe maybe no. Why you want to see him? Well, I'm a special agent of the FBI Here are my credentials. Oh, yes Yes, but uh You want to find the barbie here. He's not at home. His wife may be at home I didn't see him for three or four days Maybe you find him at the work. Oh, where's that? The garage Two three blocks Let me see now The riverfront garage. That's the one garage. That sounds like our setup Jim. Sure does Want me to drive over and take a look around? Yeah, will you Mac and be careful, huh? I'll talk to his wife Is this Bobby Watkins room who wants to know I'm a special agent of the FBI miss You're my credentials Oh May I come in please? Yeah, yeah, come in Thank you. Are you mrs. Watkins? Yeah I'm sorry Why should you be I ain't sorry. I ain't With my husband mister What's happened to him Well, mrs. Watkins, I'm afraid he's dead. Give me a heck of a sure How did it happen car cracked it? Bobby didn't have a car. Well, it wasn't his car mrs. Watkins He was mixed up in something he was He swore he wasn't he swore up and down, but I knew it all along Would you like to tell me about it? It was after After we found out that I was About the baby We needed money we We needed it bad He told me he'd got a job an honest job, but You don't make that kind of dough washing cars, mister Do you No, I'm afraid not mister Jim the gang I'm sorry. Oh, that's all right mac. Come on Mac, this is mrs. Watkins How do you do mr. Watkins? Hello Jim the gang was using the riverfront garage. All right legitimate repair set up in front closed off section back for doctoring hot cars Fine. Let's get a one. No, I'm afraid not Jim. They've already skipped No, great. Wouldn't you know it the wreck must have scared him off No evidence. No, not even a fingerprint. Looks like the whole outfit slipped right through our fingers You're wrong, mister. Ma'am They didn't all get away Bobby didn't We will return in just a moment to tonight's exciting case from the official files of your fbi 30 years ago a high school education was considered pretty good Today if you want to hold any important position that pays a better than average salary A college education is almost a must now most fathers and mothers know this And they know that their children may be handicapped without it The problem is how to assure such an education on an average income That was the problem of mr. George anvers before he became a member of the equitable society. Am I right mr. Anvers? Correct I have two little boys and I guess like most fathers. I want them to have it better than I did I figured a college education was the answer But the question was how could I do that on the kind of money I make and how did you solve that problem? Mr. Anvers my wife and I heard you describe an educational plan on this program That's our famous equitable education fund. That's right So as you suggested we called our local equitable society representative He showed me how we could put aside enough money over the next 12 years without financial hardship The interesting thing about it is that if something happens to me that fund becomes fully established with no more payments to pay Incidentally, I I'd like to congratulate the equitable society for employing men like our equitable representative He's a fine man and a good man to do business with I think every member of our radio audience Will find his own local equitable representative a good man to do business with your equitable society representative Wants to help you solve your life insurance problems He will analyze your problems and draw up a plan within your income that will give you the most for your life insurance dollar So if you have a problem such as how to be independent in your 60s or how to own your own home free and clear Or how to provide for the future of your loved ones Call up your good friend and neighbor your local equitable society representative Consult your local telephone directory for his name under the name of equitable society That's e q u i t a b le the equitable life assurance society of the united states And now back to the fbi file the hot sedan Reports compiled by your fbi show that the nearly 200 000 automobile thefts occurring annually in the united states Breakdown into three general categories First as in tonight's case There's the theft for resale Usually involving well organized and well equipped rings or gangs Second are car stolen for use during the commission of another crime The third category is the joyride theft Usually associated with juvenile offenders criminals in the second and third categories seldom possess the equipment or the technique to make off with a properly secured vehicle And even the professional car thief is less likely to choose a locked automobile Parked within a garage or on a well-lighted thoroughfare Therefore your fbi joins with your local law enforcement officers In urging you to lock your car Lock your garage And report suspicious prowlers to the police You can help protect your own property Tonight's file continues at the local fbi field office 48 hours after the discovery of the abandoned riverfront garage Special agent jim taylor is briefing state trooper aron mchenry on the status of the case Let's see you on the garage was listed howard w evans rock for the dress. It's a phony though What about the neighborhood jim? Oh, we checked it thoroughly mac the outfit operated as legitimate front. There's no local connections. You talked to that girl again Emmy Watkins. Yeah. Yeah, she's still a lot. She knows Well, I guess we're up a dead-end street. Maybe we've got an agent checking with customs to see if we can turn up any of the other cars Not much chance Special agent taylor. It's chuck humbold jim is mac there. Yeah, right here. Hang on. It's for you mac chuck humbold. Oh, thanks Yeah, check mac. I got a hot one for you. Yeah A back-to-school sale going on at richmond south shore branch Parking lot attendant just reported a stolen nash rambler. Good deal. Jim and I'll be right over I've been running this lot for more than two years first time anything like this has ever happened I suppose you tell me how the loss was first noticed, huh? Well, I see this lady wandering around a lot looking at cars. I figured maybe she's lost now. What time was this? About 2 33 o'clock When she tells me it's one of them little nashes. I know right off. I know Come well, I walked through the lot see coming back from lunch There was only one of them little bugs. It was painted bright orange. That's why I noticed it particular It's already gone. No, I'd made just for sure. You've seen a guy drive it out right past me Did you get a ticket on it? Sure took it myself That's what I can't figure mr. Taylor nobody but nobody gets out of this lot without a ticket Now wait a minute. Are you sure it was the right ticket? Did you check the number? There's a sale today, mr. Taylor. We're pretty mobbed you jam up the whole place Well, then the ticket could have been issued on a different car Possibly handed to a confederate who used it to steal the nash Yeah, yeah, it could but then how would whoever got the ticket in the first place get their car back? Well, that's what I'm trying to figure out Now are you sure didn't anybody get a car without a ticket anybody at all? Well, not that you mentioned it. There was one However, she couldn't be mixed up. Who is she a dame had lost a check on a black mercury whole time customer Was this a convertible with a light top? How did you know that? Well, that car has appeared in this case before no kidding No, no, mr. Taylor. It just ain't possible. She just ain't the type or type is she Oh, you know one of them see here young man numbers about 50 gray hair no tip Or did she find her ticket? No No, I guess not. I checked the driver's license against the certificate on the merc though. It was her car. All right Oh, do you remember her name? She know I Well, did you get the windshield stub off of her car? Yeah, it's right here in my pocket. Why? Well, I'd like to check it against the ticket on the nash. Well, that'd be over at the check stand with the rest of them Okay Uh, wait a minute mr. Taylor Yeah You mean you honestly think old lady hoity-toity parked here Handed the ticket to some guy so he could use it to steal a car and then came out and talked me to giving her her own back It's beginning to look that way. Well, what do you know? Comparison conclusively proved that the parking ticket issued on the black mercury convertible Was the one used to affect the theft of the nash automobile Your fbi had now established a definite modus operandi for the car thieves Legitimate tickets were being used to remove victim cars from the lots then later The respectable appearing owner of the decoy car would reclaim her property by professing to have lost a stub Acting on this knowledge Steakouts are set up on the parking lots of all department stores Conducting sales in the three state suburban area During a 10-day period or such surveillances are established Number of automobiles stolen none number of suspects identified none Results nil Then shortly afternoon during sale number five An oldsmobile convertible is reported missing Special agent taylor And the parking attendant who have been planted on the store parking staff Wait anxiously to see if the pattern will repeat itself Hey, mr. Taylor. Yeah, that team coming out of torn with the gray hat. That's her. That's the one. Are you sure? Sure as i'm standing here. All right, you keep on the side. I'll handle it. Okay, sir May I help you, madam? Why yes young man, perhaps you can I seem to mislead my parking ticket I don't suppose it's frightfully important, but it's very distressing. Yes. I'm sure it is. I'm in quite a hurry too I missus perry an old customer a very old customer I can pick up my car show you identification. Oh, that won't be necessary. Mrs. Perry. We'll take your word for it Why thank you young man. Thank you. I'm much replied not at all. Glad to be of service V24 to st 348 Suspect now leaving parking lot in black mercury convertible License 1 7 k for king 3 6 6 5 St 348 to be too far Thanks jim is a car hot one Now mac it's the decoy vehicle Hold on jim. I got her spotted You hear like a overnight 348 to be too far Be too far go ahead st 348 Suspect has turned on a parkway. I think she's headed for the bridge Fine. I'll pick you up on the bridge approach. Stay with her mac. Okay jim if I can It's over Be too far to st 348 I think she's going to earth Yeah, there she goes Into the Madison garage Madison garage, isn't that place okay? It's supposed to be mac So do I mac. I should say it's excellent my 200 piece. Okay. Okay Yeah, sign of the seat. Oh very well Not that I'm sure you went following you take me for an amateur. The boss wants a report. You know that very well I left the store in the mercury as usual drove to the Madison garage as usual had no trouble as usual I met michael traded tickets and drove out the oldest mobile Everything was just as usual. Look the boss tells me to play it safe and I just suggest that you're in charge here Sorry, mr. You're too late. This joint's already closed up. That's right. It's closed up and for good The members of the auto theft ring in tonight's case were convicted of interstate transportation of stolen motor vehicles And received sentences totaling 45 years in federal penitentiary Special agent jim taylor had quickly realized that the Madison garage might well serve as a second relay point In the complicated transportation system of the car thieves He therefore set up immediate surveillance at the far exit to the subterranean garage And was able to spot the stolen car as it emerged Confronted with the evidence against them the thieves made a full confession Naming all of their confederates As the case you have just heard demonstrates Your fbi and other law enforcement agencies are starting a concerted campaign to wipe out the automobile thief They ask your cooperation Almost without exception Our nation's leaders will tell you that life insurance is your best financial safeguard Now if you don't know much about life insurance ask the man who does know He's a neighbor of yours your local equitable representative Your problem may be how to own your own home free and clear years ahead of time Or how to enjoy a comfortable and independent life at 60 or how to provide for the security of your wife and youngsters Your equitable society representative knows the answers You'll find him friendly and helpful Simply consult your local telephone directory for the name of your local representative of the equitable life insurance society of the united states Next week we will dramatize another case from the files of the federal bureau of investigation its subject armed robbery its title The wayward brother The incidents used in tonight's equitable life insurance society's broadcast are adapted from the files of the federal bureau of investigation However, all names used are fictitious and any similarity they're of to the names of places or persons living or dead is accidental Tonight the music was composed and conducted by frederick steiner The author was robert yale libert Your narrator was winnie woodson and special agent taylor was played by stacey harris Others in the cast were kevelia leaky julie bennett herb butterfield whitfield connor charles maxwell dot ranken and charles stewart This is your fbi is a gerry divine production This is larry keating speaking for the equitable life insurance society of the united states And the equitable society's representative in your community and inviting you to tune in again next week at this same time Where the equitable life insurance society will bring you another thrilling transcribe story from the files of the federal bureau of investigation The wayward brother on this is your fbi Stay tuned for the adventures of azi and harriet. There's fun for the whole family when azi and harriet come your way next This program came to you from hollywood