 Here is another in NBC's great parade of new shows Ladies and gentlemen the story you were about to hear is true Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent NBC brings you dragnet You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned to Auto theft detail in Three months more than 250 cars have been broken into Property mounting well into thousands of dollars has been stolen Two youthful members of the gang have been apprehended The all-important brains of the criminal ring the leaders are still at large Your job Get them dragnet the documented drama of an actual crime Investigated and solved by the men who unrelentingly stand watch on the security of your home your family and your life 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 from official police files From beginning to end from crime to punishment Dragnet is the story of your police force in action It was Monday March 2nd. It was cold in Los Angeles We were working the night shift out of auto theft my partner's been Romero The boss is Ed Backstrand chief of detectives. My name's Friday I was on the way back from the interrogation room and it was 10 58 p.m. When I got to room 26 chief of detective's office Real tough kids aren't they? Yeah, they would admit a thing. I sit down. Thanks. Why don't you pick him up? About 8 30 tonight in the parking lot behind the star theater out on sunset He was lifting the radio out of a 48 convertible. He's had lots of experience report says you picked up a 19-year-old girl with him She was waiting for the guy in a parked car across the street in the theater car was full of loot The first real break we've had on those auto burglaries in three months and it's no good to us neither one of them will talk They won't even admit they know each other you run makes on them just did we've been questioning the boy for an hour getting nowhere What's his name again? Freeman Stanley Freeman. Oh, yeah age 20 address You've Montana down here for a vacation. Yeah, he doesn't lie very well Ed He's never been to Butte Montana in his life knows less about the town than I do well get to him right Ed Where'd you put the girl? We had a police woman take her to our office. We can talk to her when we finish to the boy And what's her story hasn't any she won't even open her mouth 19 years old probably needs a good spanking now get him to talk right you run him make you yeah, he's clean Yet wise her flat foot Look you're in a bad spot son that kind of talk isn't gonna help says you we caught you red-handed trying to steal a radio That didn't belong to you from a car. It didn't belong to you. Is that right? That's enough to send you to San Quentin boy. You better give us the story shut up. We've got all the evidence we need for him Maybe you don't realize how serious this is We've had more than 250 car burglaries in this city in the past three months Over $200,000 with the property's been stolen. That's a lot of money So what so you're the number one suspect young fella your method of operation and breaking into that car tonight is the same use in most of the other Burglaries that means you're not gonna be tried just for this job tonight What do you get in that flat foot listen son in the state of California breaking into a locked car as a felony You can go to state Penitentiary for that and we're gonna file a complaint of burglary with the district attorney in the morning You say you're from Butte, Montana All right, I don't believe you but we'll make sure Ben go down to our office and call the news photographers Stanley here is gonna have his picture on the front page of every newspaper in Los Angeles tomorrow, right Joe No You can't I won't let you I got my rights. Let's marry youngster. Everybody wants his picture in the paper Yeah, well, I don't I won't let him we got your picture all ready for him and remember I took it when the finger printed you You can't use it. You can't I'll get a lawyer and reporters will be over in a couple of minutes We have to give them your story and your picture to this one You won't you won't give it all right all right. All right Freeman get your hands off him now sit down All right now, let's have it straight Don't let him use the picture Don't let him you can't We got to have the truth son Now look you're 20 years old, you know right from wrong. You'll have to take your medicine if you cooperate. We'll do all we can to help I Live out in the Wilshire district All I wanted was a little extra money We didn't take much. We didn't think it was so wrong. It was stealing Freeman. You know that's wrong. Where do you live out there? Piper Avenue 821 Piper You won't give him my picture you live there with your family Yeah, my mother father's dead a Promise me you won't give him the picture My mother she'd see it a promise me you're working with a gang on those auto burglaries. We know that now who are they? Where are they and what's the setup? I? Can't they get me for it who'd get you I? Can't tell you I can't who's your girlfriend Stanley the one you're with tonight Joe and Joe and Miller. What does she live Piper Avenue same as me? Lives on the same block 866 at her home. You live there with her folk Yeah, mother and father They work and you got her into this. It's not the story. She gave us Ben. I did not I Didn't it was her she said a bunch of kids were doing it. It was quick money something to do with night She started it. All right, Romero. I'll go see the girl you stay here with Freeman. All right, Joe Just stay putting that chair for him. Hi, Marge. Oh Joe you and Romero handling this case Yeah, I like to talk to the girl a few minutes Marge. What do you stand by right? I'll sit over here. Thanks All right miss. What's your name agent address? I told this lady cop 15 minutes ago? I'm not saying anything. All right, then we'll tell you your name's Joe and Miller You live at 866 Piper Avenue. You live with your father and mother both of them work. You're a liar That's not me you're 19 years old You live on the same block as your boyfriend Stanley Freeman and you're the one who got a mixed up in this gang now, right? No, it's not right. It's not I didn't do anything. That's only half the story Freeman told us everything You want to hear the rest? No Stan wouldn't tell you he wouldn't he told us how you got it mixed up in it Quick money. That's what you told him. Do you know it was him? I can prove it the rest of the kids will tell you he got me in this ask him They'll tell you it was Stanley and Fred Milford and George Jansen. They started it all three of them All right, will you tell the story to a police stenographer? I'll tell him everything. He's not blaming this on me Marge will you go get this stenographer? Right Now how many persons in this gang of yours? Oh about 10 or 12 and it's not my gang either He got me into this and now he's trying to lie his way out blaming me How long you've been doing this burglarizing cars me only about two weeks Was supposed to be fun something to do at night the rest of them been at it a couple of months Who's the head of the gang I told you it's him Stanley and Fred Milford and Jansen all three I only started going out with him two weeks ago. Maybe less. All right, Joanne. Tell him to the stenographer the same way Synographer be in a minute. Okay, Marge. Thanks. Stay with it Just about a closed case Ben girl gave us a full confession. She didn't oh You're not tricking me again. She didn't she told us you're one of the leaders of the gang Stanley Said you got her into all this the other two are George Jansen and Fred Milford about a dozen kids in the gang all of them About your age, isn't that right? She's lying. Can't you tell? She's lying. She got me into the gang Well, she did she's Milford's girlfriend ask her Oh, she can't lie out of that one. She got me into it. I can prove it Who's the real leader of the gang Milford? He started it. He organized the whole thing He collects the stuff we get and he delivers it Jansen helps him do it. What do you mean? He delivers the stuff. Where does he deliver it? Somewhere in Dogtown, I think Down around South Main near the railroad yards. Who's it delivered to? I don't know exactly. I heard Jansen mentioned the name once Myra, he said it's supposed to be a big secret Myra that's that's all I remember. Where does Jansen and Milford lay him? Jansen rooms down on East Flower 1042 I think it's it's a rooming house and Milford lives two blocks over from me on Quincy 234 Quincy He lives with his grandmother. Got that Ben. All right. All right. Let's pick up Milford and Jansen It was ten minutes past one when Ben and I returned to headquarters with George Jansen and Fred Milford in our custody In Jansen's room at 1042 East Flower Street We found two fur coats a box full of new car accessories an SNW 38 revolver and a 45 automatic When we picked up Fred Milford at his home We discovered five deluxe car radios hidden in the garage plus a valuable assortment of cameras cigarette lighters and clothing Both Jansen and Milford refused to talk When we got them to headquarters and showed them the signed statements of Stanley Freeman and the girl Joanne Miller They broke Milford down. Where else did you and your gang operate besides the Wilshire district? No place only out there That's all same type of car burglars have been committed all over the city. You're telling us your gang didn't have a hand in It's a truth. Our territory was Wilshire district. We didn't go outside. You mean some other gangs responsible I don't know all I know is we didn't have any part of them. Is there another gang Milford? Maybe I don't know You find out it's none of my business. It is your business Milford You admit you and your gang committed 55 jobs in the past three and a half months that leaves about 200 jobs to be accounted for That's right. You figure it out. We have figured it out I think you and your gang a young thieves pulled every one of those 250 jobs. There isn't any other gang That's the story the district attorney's gonna get you're crazy. There is I know there is and then give us the information To save yourself a lot of trouble. Oh, we're not the only ones. That's all I know Milford, do you know how many years you get for auto burger? I told you we're not the only ones There must be a couple of others besides this Vince Mahoney. He's got a gang. Where does Mahoney operate? West Hollywood in Beverly. Where's he live? I don't know honest. I only met him a couple of times. Where'd you meet him? I Don't remember. What'd you meet him Milford? Delivery I met him down at the delivery place a couple of nights when you delivered the property you stole from cars Is that right? Yeah, where was then? Down by the railroad yards where? Shabbos Street. It's a little alley off East Main. Who'd you deliver the stuff to? He told you our names Myra. That's all I know We meet her and some guy on Tuesday nights. We give him the stuff and they pay us off The only delivers the same night. I do do you meet her every Tuesday night? Yeah, you're gonna meet her this Tuesday tomorrow night I don't know. I guess so same place. Yeah. Are you the only one she deals with? Sometimes Joanne near joint. I Know what you're thinking you want to use me to trap Myra What's it worth? You know better than that How about it Milford? What else can I do? Give me another cigarette? By 3 30 that morning the sign statements and confessions were piling up fast Milford gave us a list of the names and the dresses of each member in his gang and within an hour They were all under questioning at headquarters most of the suspects about one-third of them girls Ranged in age from 18 to 21 as they told their individual stories the scope of the case grew until it covered most of the city By late afternoon of the next day Tuesday March 3rd three more gangs operating in Venice Bel Air and North Hollywood had been apprehended They confessed to more than a hundred and seventy five burglaries from locked cars during the past three and a half months At five o'clock that afternoon Ben and I met with Chief Backstrand in his office How many admissions you have now over 50 Ed? You're the gang leader's statements That's their story that pretty much the same they all say this woman Myra said that the operation You mean she got the kids and put them to work burglarizing cars? Well, not exactly she picked the leaders contacted them in bars or on the street Ask them if they wanted to pick up some spare money getting auto parts for then she didn't tell them to go out and burglarize cars Well, not in so many words Ed. No after they brought in auto parts for a couple of weeks She told them to bring her everything they could find outside the car inside those the words she used five of the kids Dictated those words into the sign confession. Oh, that should hold in court What else did you get on this woman? Oh, she taught him how to work told him to wear gloves all angles Well, we got most of the small crime. Now, where do we find this Myra woman any description on her? Yeah Kids say she's about 33 34 Good-looking redhead five feet five about a hundred and twenty well red no description on the guy She runs with you run a make-up on her yet. Yeah, no previous record We set up a stakeout for tonight two of the gang leaders have volunteered to go along this Milford and Vince Mahoney Good down on Shavis where she usually meets them. Yeah, I try when 1115 That's a regular time for the meat according to the kid. All right. I'll be at home. Call me I don't want to miss out on this one When Ben and I left at Backstrand's office, we went home for dinner and a few hours sleep At 9 30 p.m. We were back at the office. We met the men in the special detail Which back stranded the sign for the stakeout that night? We briefed them on their duties and then we got Fred Milford and Vince Mahoney out of their cells To avoid any possible suspicion of the presence of a trap We had Milford's permission to use his car in the stakeout The car which he had said he had driven to the delivery meetings with the woman Myra at least a dozen times before We arrived at the stakeout area Shavis alley in East, Maine at 9 58 Meeting was scheduled for 1115 The moon was out, but the sky was overcast and it was a cold wind blowing from the east Hey, what time you got Sergeant? Hmm about 10. Why Milford's getting nervous. No, just wonder Are you cops gonna rig this thing in just a couple of minutes? We're gonna plant you to and Milford's car parked up there in the alley Well, you stay there until Myra shows up. We'll do the rest. Yeah, I know but what do we say suppose? You ask for some stuff. We ain't got any you won't need any you won't have much time for talking suppose She wises up. Maybe she'll pull a gun. Maybe does she carry one? No, never saw her with one Don't worry Milford. We'll make sure you're not in danger I'm awful temper that redhead got mad at me once when I squawked at the price issue is paying us for radios What was she paying you mahogany an eight tube radio good shape seven bucks So you got all the gravy and you got all the grief. You're not kidding Joe are you? Yeah, Steve. What do you got? All the men are all staked out Joe I've got the area covered from every angle. All right. You got an extra man to stay in Milford's car I had a lot myself fine. Thanks. Okay. What's that Joe? Yeah Now Milford mahogany, we're gonna put you two in your car now That's going to be an officer with you So there's no need to be nervous or afraid and just sit in the car and act natural When this Myra drives up, don't leave the car ever come to you. You got it sure. Okay. All right, Joe. Let's go Sure is cold out. I don't know about a heater in my car You stole enough of them Okay, Steve here they are. All right boys Milford get in first behind the wheel. Okay, honey in the middle And I'll sit in the back and we'll be parking that garage across the street Steve got a perfect view of the alley Okay, but check with you later. All right Me night Joe. Yeah, come on. It's cold here in the garage in it. Yeah That might be a long way What time you got Six minutes past ten. Thank you Joe, what is it? It's nothing Thought that passing car was turning in the alley relax. It's early place Door it's on your nerve. That's it Ben. I passed 11 nothing yet Somebody might have tipped her off. Yeah, that's what I was afraid of Let's wait it out anyway Joe have blue coupe. They just turned in the alley. Let's go on run Ben What'd you get Steve here? He is just drove up in the coupe got out and called Milford Mahoney by the first names He's in on it. What about the girl? No sign kid was the only one in the car. All right Tell them in the stakeouts offered and I'd have them report back in we'll take the kid with us Okay, all right young fellow this way your cops think it don't ain't done nothing look sport We heard that from 54 different kids yesterday. We're tired of that line. Come on When we got back to the office we took the boy to the interrogation room and questioned him He gave his name as Matthew lighter age 21 He wouldn't break until Vince Mahoney definitely identified him as a member of his car burglary gang and the special favorite of the red-headed woman They called Myra Then lighter copped out and told Ben and I that he had talked with Myra as late as 10 o'clock tonight He told us that she had heard that the police had picked up some of the gang members And she asked lighter to drive down to the Chavez alley meeting place He was supposed to tell Milford and Mahoney that the weekly delivery date was off until further notice We questioned Matthew lighter for an hour and a half You told us a little while ago that you talked with this woman Myra late tonight. Yeah, where'd you talk to her at her home? They're home. Don't be stupid. Nobody knows what she lives. I met her at a bar. Which bar? Julius I don't Santa Monica. How did she contact you called me at home. She's not such a bad day She treats you right sure. That's why you in jail Did you ever call her on the phone? I don't know her number none of the kids do She's smart. She taught me all I know about the racket. You'll have a rough time getting there. Maybe but we'll get her Ben and I left the office at 2 a.m. And went home to bed We reported in at 8 that morning to head back strand The three of us went down the street to Cocon's restaurant for a cup of coffee Nobody was in a good mood We had most or haul the small fry in the citywide burglary ring But it seemed we were still a long way from cracking the inner circle Lighter kid said that none of them knows where she lives what our phone number is nothing. That's a sugar Yeah, I think we still have a few angles to study on that score right now. I've got some more bad news for you What's that been through your mail this morning? No, that's yet. We haven't had a chance. I saw the overnight reports. There were 32 car burglaries last night 32 all the way from Wilmington to North Hollywood. How you figure it? Okay, this girl Myra must have an army of kids working for how much did they get it any idea rough estimate about $3,000 usual stuff people are foolish enough to leave in their cars Watches cameras furs expensive clothes I'm always the same and like the others If the car happens to have a rigid handle lock, they slip a piece of pipe over the handle for a lever and break it If that doesn't work, they pry open the wing window Some of the windows were smashed out sounds like an awful hurried you now Maybe this Myra wants a few big nights before she pedals the stuff and gets out if we're going to get her We can't waste time any suspects picked up last night skipper none Well, where did they hit most the car outside the pan Pacific the parking lot hockey game going on Must have been 4,000 cars for them to pick over they picked the best as usual. Oh, you better get on it There's one way to handle it. What's that? She works fast you work a little faster We got back to the office and we went over the reports one by one Then we called the young gang members to the interrogation room and question them separately and request them We got nowhere Many of them had met Myra on the street in a bar, but not one of them had any idea where she lived At least that's what they told us Ben had a hunch that Matthew lighter knew more than he was telling We had him brought to the interrogation room and all that afternoon until 10 o'clock that night With interruptions for his meal periods. We talked with lighter. He would admit nothing more than what he'd already told us Yeah, it's got me beat Joe. Yeah, let's check with that I'm Mike skipper in just went down the hall for a minute and right back See who detectors always handed Yeah for you Joe Thanks Well, yeah He does we'll be right over. I was sergeant Hopkins over at the jail. Yeah, Matthew lighters got something to tell us says it's important Have a chair here latter. Yeah, thanks All right, you wanted to see us I'm getting even with that dame Myra. I'm squaring with you Yeah, she told me if I was picked up she'd have me out in a couple of hours She promised me a lawyer if anything happened said she'd get me bail. All right. Where can we find her? I don't know if she's there now, but you can find out at Francisco motors big use car lot garage to It's out on Melrose past La Siena. What's the time? That's where she fenced most of the stuff we stole Some old guy she buddies with runs the place big shop in the back store a lot of hot stuff there Barney. Yes, we're through with them. Take them back We checked with chief back strand and then we drove out to the Francisco Motor Company We located it on the corner of Melrose and Geneva Avenue was a big layout Consisted of a large used car lot sign bantering the slogan deluxe auto accessories lowest prices in town Along the back end of the lot. There was a large L-shaped garage We found the man in charge and he gave his name as Paul Hackett the owner of the car lot In the garage, we found the entrance to a large back storeroom was loaded with thousands of dollars where the bottle radios Spotlights cratefuls of assorted car accessories Special closets built into the walls of the garage contain racks of fur coats suits dresses below that Smaller boxes containing watches and cameras all wrapped in tissue paper You can save all of us a lot of time and trouble by talking to us now. Mr. Hackett worries myra I don't know who you're talking about. I don't know what you're talking about Can you explain what we just found in your garage? I didn't know it was there. I didn't know a stolen. Well, which is it? Mr. Hackett make up your mind. I bought it, but I didn't know it was stolen. You can't prove I didn't know I think we can prove it mr. Hackett some of those stolen car radios stored back there The serial numbers are filed off and this workbench here is full of filings. I I didn't know you'll have to do better than that. How does myra figure in I don't know I Don't know what you're talking about. It's all right with us Hackett. We found this stuff and we got you We don't find myra. You'll be doing time for two people stand still You can't you can't do this to me. I I don't know anything about it. Come on. Hackett. We're taking you in All right get in the car Come on in the car. And I go to jail. You're going to jail All right, I'll take you to myra Hackett told us that myra lived at 1345 Munich Drive in Beverly Hills He said that he was myra's husband He told us that he'd been in a legitimate garage business for 10 years before he married myra She talked him into the racket. He identified 1345 Munich Drive as their home When we got there we found stores of stolen properties similar to those found in the garage Myra was not there. Hackett had no idea where she might be We sat down in the living room and waited One hour two hours three hours After five hours of waiting the monotony started to wear on everybody's nerves Especially hackets and the whole thing. It was her idea. I should have known all first. She did this to me I won't take it alone. Where is she? You tell us Hackett told you. I don't know She couldn't have gone. She didn't know I'm not gonna take this alone. Quiet down quiet down That's your pa But I heard you talking to some who's he the police myra the police Your smart kids told them the whole story. What are you talking about my smart kids? What are these cops doing here in the living room? Get your dirty hands off me. Get away. The kids are right, Joe She got it. Yeah There that ought to hold you for a while All right, come on you two. Let's go All right copper You win Stupid husband how many times I tell you don't trust those kids Don't store their stuff in the garage don't open it for anybody get a lawyer. No, you know better dumb jerk The idea of those cops camping in the living room waiting for me. Why didn't you warn me? I'm gonna divorce you. That's what I'm gonna do. I'll stick you for plenty Jerk all right inside you too. You got a smoke, Ben Hmm. Yeah Here. Thanks. I just thinking What those kids were right? She's pretty nice-looking woman. Yeah Nice face Beautiful figure. Mm-hmm. Sure talks a lot though, doesn't she? Yeah Hey, Joe remind me to take home some flowers to my wife tonight, will you? The story you have just heard is true Only the names were changed to protect the innocent Paul and Myra Hackett were tried and convicted on seven separate counts of receiving stolen property They are now serving out their sentences in the state penitentiary Realizing that most of the young persons involved in the case were influenced by the strong personality of Paul and Myra Hackett a Separate investigation was made into the backgrounds and home life of the young offenders in most cases They were found to be basically good and they were placed on probation and returned to their homes You have just heard the 13th in a new series of authentic cases from official files Technical advice for dragnet comes from the office of WA Wharton acting chief of police Los Angeles police department Tonight's program is dedicated to Detective Harry William Vosper of the Seattle, Washington police department Who on the night of July 21st 1949 gave his life so that yours might be more secure Dragnet came to you from Los Angeles And now an important announcement Starting this Saturday, September 3rd Dragnet will be heard at a new time over your NBC station Consult your local newspaper for the new listening time and now speaking in behalf of the producers and the entire cast of dragnet We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your many kind letters of encouragement and approval Remember next Saturday for dragnet. 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