 Ladies and gentlemen, the story you're about to hear is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent. Detective Sergeant, you're assigned the burglary detail. During the last two weeks there have been a series of burglaries in the Valley Division. You haven't got a lead. Your job, find one. The documented drama of an actual crime. For the next 30 minutes in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, you will travel step by step on the side of the law through 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 Wednesday, September 9th. It was hot in Los Angeles. We were working the day watch out of burglary division. My partner's Frank Smith. The boss is Captain Bernard. My name's Friday. We're on our way out to a recently completed housing project in the Valley. It was 10.13 a.m. when we got to the corner of Moore Park in Victory, Mayflower Homes. There's some right here, huh? Yeah, 224. I guess they haven't sold them all yet. 500 bucks done, not too bad. Pretty nice houses. You think they're gonna get a new place? I was thinking, can't you shoot them up? We could use a little more room. Just what they always wanted. House nobody else has lived in. Someday, maybe. Yes, sir? We're police officers. It's Frank Smith. My name's Friday. Oh, how do you do? Somebody reported a burglary at this address. I'm Michael. Yes, sir. That's me. Would you show us where you broke in, please? Oh, yes, sir. It's in the front bedroom. Just this right here. Just talk the hall here. Yeah. This window here, you can see where he jimmied it. I was careful not to touch it. You know, fingerprints. Can he give us a list of the things he took? No, sir, not for certain. We were just getting moved in, and we don't know for sure what's gone. A couple of silver trays and a pair of candles sticks there missing. Any cash? About 20, 25 dollars. I got to dinner last night. I left it in my trousers. They were in the other bedroom in the back of a chair. Pretty dumb place to leave money. Your family live here with you? My wife. We've only been married a couple of weeks. Things he stole, they were wedding presents. That's too bad. Sure is a heck of a way to start out. Being married, I mean. Never wanted a house in the first place. Well, it's her own fault. What do you mean, sir? Sally's parents insisted on giving it to us. The down payment part. Sally will never be able to manage a big place like this. She's just a couple of years younger than I am. Just a kid. The apartment's what we ought to have. No point in arguing with them, though. I found that out proddle. Yeah. Any idea what time the bakery took place? Yes, sir. Between 6 and 10 last night. Must have been then between 6 and 10. We went over to Sally's folks for dinner. Our refrigerator hasn't been delivered yet. I see. The reason I'm so sure about the time is I wanted to find out how long it would take to drive there. I told Sally it wouldn't be more than 15 minutes. The first time she's ever been away from home, she kind of likes to feel that her folks are handy. I understand. Hollywood Hills. That's where they live. Off of Mulholland. Took us 14 minutes. Left here at 6 o'clock exactly. News was just coming on the radio. Got there at 6.14. I'm not so sure when we got home, but it was right around 10 o'clock. That's close enough. Of course, I didn't know about the burglary then when we got home. We just went straight to bed. Didn't come in here. We used the back bedroom. Yeah. It wasn't until this morning when I started looking at my pants for cash. Is it possible he broke in while you were asleep? Well, I might have slept through it, but not Sally. At least little thing wakes her up. She'd have heard him. What's to happen while we were out? Have you noticed anybody suspicious hanging around the last couple of days? No, sir. Of course, we're brand new in the neighborhood. Most of the houses aren't even sold yet. We wouldn't know who was suspicious and who wasn't. We are if we talk your life. She couldn't tell you anything I am. She here now? Over to mothers. This kind of thing, well, it's kind of fruity, you know. You know how it is, just a kid. Yeah, I understand. We should have been me that found out about the bird. The bird? Well, didn't I tell you? I meant to. No. Turned a sting. Parakeet. Somebody gave it to Sally when she was a girl. Taught it how to talk. Talk real good, too. Why should a burglar do a thing like that? What'd he do, turn it loose? No, sir. He killed it. We talked to Mrs. Brighton at her parents' home. She was unable to add anything to what her husband had told us. 1.15 p.m. The crime lab reported that there were no useful fingerprints on the Brighton window. Pictures were taken of the Jimmy Marks. There was no other physical evidence. September 11th, two more burglaries took place in a new housing track near Sepulveda Boulevard. The burglar had followed the same MOU used on the Brighton house. One victim also told us that three pet canaries had been killed. The other victim had no pets. By the end of the following week, four more burglaries had occurred in new housing development. In each case where the home contained pet birds, the bird was killed. Other pets were not disturbed. Circulars describing the stolen articles were sent to all pawn shops in the city. September 21st, 8.05 a.m. We checked in for work. Oh, man. What's the matter? You still asleep? Yeah, I didn't get a wink last night. Things at me all night, you know? It's morning fall, Joe. Never should have told her about all those new houses going up nowadays. It was a big mistake. Well, I thought you told me you were considering a new house. Yeah, I changed my mind. We've got enough people staying with us as it is. Faved relatives. Brother-in-law Armin, you know. Well, him, huh? Yeah, he's down here. As long as he has to sleep on the living room couch, he'll take off after a day or two. Give him a real bed and he'd stay with us for the rest of his life. I get it. Burgary Friday. Yes, sir, when did it happen? I see. Just a minute, please. I'll go ahead. That's 2.14 south. Yes, sir, I've got it. Right. Well, we've got another one. Yeah? Pet shop over in your Lankersham Boulevard. The shop? Uh-huh. Doesn't sound like our boy. Might be if they sell birds. We left the office and drove out to the Big's Pet Shop on a side street in North Hollywood. 9.07 a.m., we interviewed Jasper Big, the owner of the store. He told us that during the night, the back door had been forced open. $17 was missing from the cash register. Money ain't important, you understand. Not that anybody likes being robbed. Yes, sir, we understand. Besides what's happened before, that's why I keep this sign up here on the register. It tells them how to open it. I see. A couple of years ago, fella broke in, wrecked the machine trying to get it open. That cash register's worth a whole lot more than I keep in it. Shut up, over there! I love you! Dang much racket in here. A person can't even think. Now, where was I? Oh, yeah, about the money. Now, like I said, it don't matter. The $17. Yes, sir. The birds is different. They do matter. Sir? Well, he killed all of them, every last one. I see. Parrots, parrots, parrots eats and canaries. Now, they don't matter. I can replace them. Insurance will take care of it anyway. Them parrots is another story. It's a different story entirely. Yes, sir. Two of them was on consignment worth over $100 a piece. $100! Bet you never figured birds run that high, did you? No, sir. Well, they do. Parrots anyway, some of them. And once more, my insurance don't cover birds on consignment. How do you like that? Check with the fellow of the Soviet policy right after I call the police. He says, birds on consignment aren't covered. Well, that's what it is. A little pole. That's it. Probably somebody wanting to bother them parrots. Be just my luck. Big sped shop. Who? Oh, oh, yeah. Yeah, they're still here. Just a minute. It's for you. Thank you. It's Friday. Yeah. Okay, give me that address. As soon as we can. Right. We got another one? Tracked off Riverside Drive. Same routine. One thing's different. Yeah. Some lady saw him. Yeah. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. It's a different one. We ended our interview with Mr. Biggs and we drove out to the address of a Mrs. Nellie diver who had just reported a burglary. Mrs. Diver told us her house had been entered shortly after she left her do her marketing. She discovered she'd forgotten her grocery list. And she came back for it. When she returned, the burglar was in the dining room. He had entered through a side window. He ammol appeared to be the same as in the other recent burglaries. Every sausage is surprised. Look at a man facing my life. He just stood there like he was frozen solid for a minute or more. And then he let out through the back door like it's How long you've gone from the house man five ten minutes soon as I remembered about my list. I started back Why I'm getting so forgetful old age must be catching up with me. Well, it's a good thing. You did forget in the diary Hmm. Oh, you mean so he didn't get time to steal anything. Nothing around here worth stealing Now I happen to pick me be different if I lived up in Bel Air one of those estates one of us who we think it is Satisfied with small owns you mean he's pulled this kind of stunt before yes, ma'am You think you'd recognize the man if you saw him again, I beg your pardon the man who broke in here You said you got a good look at him. No, we're good. So they're in the dining room for a full minute Maybe more then you'd recognize him. Would you I don't see why not? This isn't the first time we met up. You understand. How's that so I'm once before when was that last week sometime I'm not certain when serious very similar the weekend through there. You sure it was the same man Look the same came right up to my door. What do you want? I'm not certain of that either. I've been wracking my brain trying to remember the many fellows around here last week two or three milkman trying to sign me up Couple of people wanting me to take newspapers three or four asking about dry cleaning somebody selling rugs and half my time running to the door Help me. I can't remember which one he was Getting old sure it's fate. You think he was just pretending to be a door to door salesman of some kind or other Seems to me they were all trying to sell something. It's what always happens when you settle in a new location. What if you'd mind coming downtown with us for a while? No, no, I wouldn't mind. What for would I show you some photographs? You can pick the man out for it right now. If you could. Yes, you just give me a minute to get my hat and change Henry's water and my canary out in the kitchen. Oh, haven't you noticed the way he's been? Funny ma'am. He's usually singing up a blue street this time of day. We went into the kitchen with Mrs. Diver and we found the dead bird. She agreed to accompany us downtown 11 05 a.m. We pulled the mug shots of burgers who matched the description that she'd given us and we showed them to Mrs. Diver She identified one of the photographs Stanley a bushing bushing at them time in the state penitentiary as a cat burger From his five tams we learned his acquaintances in the places. It was known to frequent 336 p.m. We located bushing in a bar on North Maine . Stand bushing. Yeah, police officers. You don't say we'll talk to you bushing be my guest. Come on, let's go. What's the matter with right here? Don't get noisy until later on. Why not right here? Where were you last night? What time? All night and this morning eight o'clock this morning. Why do you want to know? All right, let's go. Well, give me a chance to finish my beer, will you? But you boys want to know where I was last night. All right, I'll tell you. I just want to know why that's all you've been up the valley lately. Well, come on. How about it? Oh, that's why after me. How you think I've been pulling those house problems? What do you know about them? Well, I read in the papers. You know more than that. I do. It was another one this morning. That's news to me. That's so. Yeah, I haven't bought a paper yet today. Lady saw you. Huh? Right after you broke in. Me, huh? She says it's you. Well, she needs glasses. We don't think so. Look, you'll never make it stick. We're going to try it, fella. I'm clean. Not even on parole no more. It won't be parole this time. It won't be anything. Oh, come on, bushing quits, darling. Don't get yourself in an uproar. Take it easy. You'll live longer. Suppose I got an alibi. We'll try it for size. For all night and this morning. Go on. I was with friends. We got a lady who says different. I got a lot of friends. Yeah, we know your friends. We'll settle for the lady. 1030 last night till nine o'clock this morning with him every minute. Where? You ain't going to like it. Where were you? You're going to look pretty fool. Come on. Let's have it, bushing. Drunk tank, Lincoln Heights jail. We verified bushings alibi with a booking sergeant of Lincoln Heights and we learned that he was in the clear as far as the previous night was concerned. 506 p.m. We interviewed Mrs. Diver again. She wavered in her identification of bushings photo and she said she couldn't tell us anything more. Teletypes of the suspect's description were set out. The next day, Tuesday, September 22nd, we had a meeting with a skipper, Captain Bernard. Well, where do we stand? Just about where we did when it started. It's not good, is it? No, it's not. We thought we had him yesterday, skipper, but it didn't pan out. You got a description? Well, if she's no better at describing him than she is at identification, it doesn't mean much. We figure he pretends to be a salesman of some kind. That alley case is the house? As far as we can tell, yeah. You need a lot more than that. Yeah. This guy's got to be stopped. It isn't just the burglaries. It seems half of the people in L.A. keep pet birds. I don't know. My kids have a couple of canaries themselves. You get attached to them like you do anything else. Yeah, I know. You've always seen the mail on this thing? Oh, sure. Letters from all over, not just in town, here all over. People are raising pain. My own kids asked me when we're going to catch him. Can't wait any longer for a break. We've got to make one. Have you got any ideas? I don't know. We've just been working housing projects, huh? Except for that one pet store, yeah. Well, let's forget the store and see if we can get a pattern out of the houses. Well, they're all new places. Folks have just moved in. He tracks one or two in each development when he moves on. So far, he stayed in the Valley Division out there. We were building up out that way. He won't run out of targets, you know. They opened any new projects last week or so? Yeah, a couple. He tapped them yet? No. We alerted the owners, told them to warn anybody who moves in. Probably won't do much good, though. Might? Hm? If you two moved in. Wednesday, September 23rd, we drove out to a new track just off Coldwater Canyon Boulevard. It was called White Manor Homes. We found the track to office near the main entrance we went inside. Gentlemen, what can I do for you? You interested in owning a new home? We're police officers, sir. This is Frank Smith. My name's Friday. Police. That's right, sir. Well, I don't think I've had any parking tickets lately. We're from Birdbury. Oh, about the Birdman, I suppose. Okay. Yeah, that's what they call them in the papers. You know, the Birdman. Yes, it's about him. He hasn't been around here. Well, no, sir, not as far as we know. Well, it's a relief. After this makes much difference. You're in charge of this project, are you, sir? Yes, sir. My name's Simple. Paul is Simple. I've got a card right here in the desk. That's all right, Mr. I own White Manor Homes. I see. I guess I should say me and the bank. We own it together. Yes. It's all going to belong to the bank, though, the way things are going. It opened near their week now. I haven't sold a single house. I haven't even had a decent offer. Well, what's the trouble, sir? Now you know what's the trouble, just as well as I do. Birdman, that's a trouble. Folks just aren't going to move into any new development until he's caught. Sent me a circular last week, the police department. I'm supposed to warn anybody who buys from me. Put them on their guard. Yes, sir. Don't need any warning. As scared off as it is. Three months ago, I'd be at house sold out by now. Seems to be you fellas are dogging it. I'm not telling you your business, mind you, but it seems to me you should have picked him up before this. Yes, sir. Maybe you can help us. How's that? Well, the sign out in front says that two of your houses are furnished. Is that right? Oh, that's just for display. Westman's Department Store did it. Figures it's good advertising. Yes, sir. Of course, I don't sell them furnished, just for display. We'd like to use one of them for a few days. Use one? Yes, sir. I'm afraid I don't follow you. Well, sir, you've got a soul sign that you can put up in the front yard, haven't you? I guess so. Well, we'll see that nothing's disturbed. If anybody asks, you tell them that a new couple moved in. Oh, I get you. Decoys, huh? Yes, there's something like that. Well, I don't know. The department store might not go for the idea. Well, we'll clear it with them. It's all right, whether. Thank you. How long you suppose it'll take? Okay. We catch them. I guess it's as good as ours if it works at all. It better work. Pressure's building up. You folks don't know what it's like being under pressure. Oh, the bank, a lot of money on this project figured I'd have at least half a dozen houses sold by now. At least half a dozen. Interest to be paid is the principle. And the bank expects it on time. You can't blame them for that. No, sir. You don't know what it's like having the pressure turned on. We get a little every once in a while. Oh, well, that's different. Your boss rides you and tells you to get on the ball. You laugh or worry, you can't fire. Cops are civil servants. Pressure from your boss? Oh, that's different. It's not coming from him. Well, where's it coming from? A guy who kills birds. We telephone the Wesley department store and we talk to the manager. He gave us permission to use the house that they decorated. At a neighborhood pet store, we purchased the cage and two canaries. It was 1130 a.m. when we got back to White Manor Homes. Mr. Simple was putting up a sold sign in front of one of the houses. What you got there? Oh, canaries, huh? Yes, sir. Well, here's the key in case you want to lock up. The door's open now. Thank you. Want me to spread the word? What's that, sir? I've sold this place. We'd appreciate that. Okay. I'll see that it gets round. Thank you. And some layout, huh? Yeah, it's very nice. You know anything about taking care of birds? I don't think it's much to it. There's water and sea. Hey, Joe. Get a load of that couch. Yeah. What was the eight feet long? Just about. Say ever see this place I'm dead. Would you tell her? Although we were on a job, I certainly didn't go into detail. Mm-hmm. I wonder what it would cost. Hmm? The pigs are joined up like this. How much it would cost? More than we may. Yeah. Yeah, I probably wouldn't be very comfortable anyway. I like having your own stuff. You're used to smell. Hey, boy, they're really turning up a storm, aren't they? Yeah. They're kind of cute, too. Hey, you know, Joe Faye might like a couple of birds. A good company for when the kids were in school. Well, maybe you can have those. I never thought of that. If he doesn't get them first. No one came by the house that afternoon or that evening. At 6 p.m., Frank went home. I stayed through the night. Thursday, September 24th, 9.15 a.m. We got our first visitor. Frank waited in the bedroom while I talked to her. She was a young lady who said that she represented the local chamber of commerce and told me her job was to welcome newcomers to the neighborhood. She gave me some maps and a book of coupons which could be exchanged for free introductory gifts at various stores in the vicinity. During the rest of the day, we had four more callers, two newspaper agents, the representative from a dry cleaning establishment and a charity worker. As far as we can tell, they were all genuinely fond of birds. 4.45 p.m., a small old truck pulled up in front. Look, coming up the wall. Pretty close from this diver's description. Yeah, don't mean to get out of here. I'm better if you only see one of us, right? Are you the house, sir? I'll shop. Oh, ah, come back. What's it about? I'd rather talk to her. Why? I'd like to take over your yard. I'm a gardener, mister. Oh, well, I'm the one to see about that. Why not? Ask a man for a gardening job. He says he'll do it himself. Weekends and after work. Don't understand how much work it'll be. Wife knows better and knows the husband, too. She's the one who hires me. Well, maybe I'm different. It's a pretty big yard. If I don't spend my weekends on my back. I don't blame you. Come on inside for a minute. Yeah, sure. How much would you charge for a yard this size? Want me to handle watering, too? No, I guess we can take care of the watering. Well, I'll come once a week, then mow the lawn, look happier. Flowers do weeding behind him. Well, we're pretty well landscaping out. Well, you'll want some of your own plants could use a couple more roses alongside that. That's possible. It's a matter. No, I was just looking around. It's a well-placed yard here. How much for the yard work? Twenty-five a month. That's a big yard, sir, tell yourself. You'd only be here a couple of hours a week, you know. Oh, twenty-five is the best I can do. You think it over. I got to be sure to know. How about twenty? Sorry, mister. It's not worth any more than that. There are plenty of gardeners for twenty. You know that. Up to you. I ain't got any other jobs in this neck of the woods. I have to drive all the way out of here. How'd you happen to find us then? I say, how'd you happen to find us then? Well, I heard about this project. I'd talk more. I'm going to be sold by now. I guess you're the only people who moved in, huh? Right. Probably will be before long. Well, if I pick up any other customers in the project, I might come down twenty-five a month. Ready to cancel a move? What do you think it will drop back there, so? Somebody here most of the time? Most of the time, yes. I'll drop back. Oh, shut up. What is it? I wasn't talking to you. I know you're crazy. What's wrong with them? They're better nuisance. They're always screeching to get on somebody's nerves. I guess you don't like birds. Well, I could do without these. Why don't you get rid of them? Oh, my wife's a blower sack. Oh, yeah. Pride and joy. You know, she talks to them all the time. Baby talks to them. Yeah, just like my leg. Your wife, she birthed two birds. Oh, yeah. When I was a kid, cage is all over the place. I had fifteen, twenty birds. I guess I'm lucky we only get to... Yeah, you're lucky, you know. I had a dog once. Yeah. Rusty, that was his name. There's a mutt. The only dog I ever had. Killed one of her at Canary. That wasn't his fault. Bird got loose. He didn't know no better. It's just plain. Well, it didn't mean to kill it. Sure. You need to get rid of Rusty. My mom did. Send him away. I don't know what happened. I've never had another dog after that. He wouldn't let me. Just words. Just lay awake and I'd listen to him sing. That's what she called it. You'd sound like singing to me. I couldn't cover him over. That was cool to cover him over. Had a night long. Had to listen to him. Like you said, gets on a fella's nerves. Poor. Listen to John Sayers sick of my little kisses. I didn't know if I had to kill them all. All mom's words. I couldn't stay after that. I ran away from home. Wish I could have stayed. Wish I could have seen her face next morning. Made it up for Rusty. Yes. Don't keep her in the middle of it. Keep killing them over and over. Folks put them in a cage. Lock them up. Feel sorry for them afterwards. Don't make sense. I don't feel sorry for something just because it's locked up. You might. Or you'll just heard is true. The names were changed to protect the innocent. On November 12th, the hearing was held in Department 98, Superior Court, State of California, Ian and Paul, the county of Los Angeles. Philip James Borch was examined by six psychiatrist appointed by the court and found to be mentally incompetent. He was committed to the state mental hospital at Mendocino for an indefinite period of time. Dragnet is a presentation of the United States Armed Forces Radio Service.