Dragnet: The Big Present 11/24/1953 - Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio

Summary

Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio Episode Summary: Dragnet: "The Big Present" (11/24/1953)
Release Date: December 17, 2024

Introduction

In this gripping episode of Dragnet, titled "The Big Present," Detective Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner Frank Smith are assigned to a challenging burglary case that has baffled the Los Angeles Police Department. The storyline delves deep into the psychological motivations of a juvenile suspect, exploring themes of isolation, the quest for acceptance, and the impact of societal pressures on youth delinquency.

Case Overview

Initial Incident: The episode opens on a chilly Monday morning, December 14th, where Joe Friday and Frank Smith are briefed about a series of 18 market burglaries over the past two months with no leads or clues pointing to the thief's identity. Their objective is clear: apprehend the burglar and bring him to justice.

Meeting with Sergeant Lindsay Simmons (02:15): Friday and Smith visit the Georgia Street Juvenile Bureau to consult with Sergeant Lindsay Simmons. They discuss the complexities of the case, particularly focusing on the peculiar pattern observed in the burglaries—the consistent use of empty milk bottles left at each crime scene. Sgt. Simmons suggests that the thief might be a kleptomaniac, a theory that intrigue Friday and Smith but leaves them with more questions than answers.

Investigation and Stakeout

Crime Scene Analysis (05:45): The detectives visit the latest burglary site, an Italian delicatessen on the corner of Jackson and Broadway streets. They inspect the entry point, a window pane measuring nine and a half by twelve and three-quarters inches, noting the absence of an alarm due to recent technical issues. The only tangible clue is an open package of cigarettes found in the back parking lot, but fog the previous night has rendered any prints unusable.

Stakeout Strategy (09:38): Analyzing the crime pattern, Friday and Smith deduce that the burglar strikes exclusively on Friday and Saturday nights between 8 PM and midnight. To catch the thief in action, they organize a rolling stakeout in collaboration with additional Metro Reserve cars, preparing for a week-long observation.

Character Development and Personal Struggles

Joe Friday’s Personal Life (13:20): Amidst the investigation, Detective Friday grapples with personal issues at home. He reveals marital strains with his wife Faye, highlighting his struggles to balance work and family life. This subplot adds depth to Friday’s character, showcasing the personal sacrifices involved in law enforcement.

Frank Smith’s Dilemma (16:00): The narrative takes a poignant turn as Smith contemplates the upcoming birthday of his wife, Faye. He purchases a deep-fat fryer as a gift, hoping to mend his strained relationship. However, Faye remains distant, symbolizing the emotional toll of their demanding jobs.

Breakthrough and Confrontation

Apprehension of the Suspect (16:35): After days of meticulous surveillance, Friday and Smith finally spot the burglar in action. In a tense confrontation, Frank attempts to subdue the suspect, who resists violently. Through persistent interrogation, it is revealed that the suspect, Elroy Graham, is a 15-year-old juvenile struggling with feelings of inadequacy and societal rejection.

Notable Quote (17:32):

Joe Friday: "You're going to come around. Yeah, we'll find out."

Elroy’s Admission (22:50): Elroy opens up about his motivations, explaining that his actions stemmed from a desire to be noticed and accepted by his peers. He recounts how his physical stature led to constant bullying and exclusion, driving him to seek validation through petty crimes.

Notable Quote (24:25):

Elroy Graham: "I did it to be big. That's why I had the things other people wanted. Cigarettes, candy. The other things kids wanted made me important."

Resolution and Reflection

Juvenile Court Outcome (26:20): Elroy is brought before the Juvenile Court, where he is placed under the care of the probation department for three years, contingent upon his parents seeking psychiatric help. This resolution emphasizes the importance of addressing the root causes of juvenile delinquency rather than solely focusing on punitive measures.

Final Interaction (27:35): In a heartfelt moment, Elroy returns to thank Friday and Smith, presenting them with packages of cigarettes as a token of appreciation. He reflects on their role in helping him confront his issues, illustrating the potential for rehabilitation and positive change.

Notable Quote (25:47):

Joe Friday: "It's gonna be all right here."

Key Themes and Insights

Psychological Motivations: The episode delves into the internal struggles of youth, highlighting how feelings of inadequacy and the yearning for acceptance can lead to delinquent behavior.
Law Enforcement's Human Side: Through personal subplots, the episode reveals the emotional burdens carried by detectives, emphasizing their humanity and the complexities of their personal lives.
Rehabilitation over Punishment: The resolution in Juvenile Court underscores the importance of rehabilitative approaches in addressing juvenile crimes, advocating for mental health support and familial involvement.
Societal Pressures: Elroy’s story is a commentary on the societal expectations placed on young individuals and the consequences when they fail to meet these standards.

Conclusion

"Dragnet: The Big Present" masterfully intertwines a compelling investigative narrative with profound character studies, offering listeners not only a thrilling police procedural but also a thoughtful exploration of the societal factors influencing youth behavior. Through the diligent efforts of Joe Friday and Frank Smith, the episode delivers a message of empathy, understanding, and the enduring pursuit of justice.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

Frank Smith (00:33): "It will be full representative."
Joe Friday (02:37): "Would you speak to your mother in that tone? Speak to a real human being. You shouldn't need to shout into the void to get your health insurance questions answered."
Frank Smith (13:20): "Faye's tried to find them for me. Salami liked this. Brought home all kind of things, but she's never found the right kind."
Elroy Graham (24:25): "I did it to be big. That's why I had the things other people wanted. Cigarettes, candy. The other things kids wanted made me important."
Joe Friday (25:47): "It's gonna be all right here."

Final Thoughts

This episode stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of Dragnet, seamlessly blending authentic police work with deep psychological narratives. "The Big Present" not only entertains but also prompts listeners to reflect on the societal influences shaping youth behavior, making it a standout installment in the series' illustrious history.

Transcript

Joe Friday (0:00)

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Frank Smith (0:20)

My school uses Podbean.

Joe Friday (0:21)

My church too. I love it. I really do. If you know your party's Extension, press or say 1 to leave a message in our company mailbox, press or say 2. Spoiler alert.

Frank Smith (0:33)

It will be full representative.

Joe Friday (0:37)

Would you speak to your mother in that tone? Speak to a real human being. You shouldn't need to shout into the void to get your health insurance questions answered. Pacific Source Health Plans.

Frank Smith (0:48)

This is a real person.

Joe Friday (0:49)

How can I help you? Human service, not automated phone trees. Pacific Source Health Plans. Welcome to Choice Classic Radio where we bring to you the greatest old time radio shows like us on Facebook. Subscribe to us on YouTube and thank you for donating@ChoiceClassicRadio.com Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent. Dragnet is brought to you by Chesterfield. Made by Liggett and Myers. First major tobacco company to give you a complete line of quality cigarettes. You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned a burglary detail. In the past two months, a thief has broken into 18 markets. There's no lead to his whereabouts, no clue to his identity. Your job. Get him friends. Stage and screen star Paul Douglas is featured on the Chesterfield poster of the month that's up all over town. Here's what Paul Douglas says about Chesterfield's quote. I've been smoking Chesterfield for 22 years. They're best for me. If you try them, you'll find they're best for you. You know why Chesterfields are best for you? Because they're low in nicotine, highest in quality, and of course, Chesterfields are really mild, really satisfying. Try them yourself. Today, smoke America's most popular two way cigarette, Chesterfield, regular and king size. Best for you, Dragnet. 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 Monday, December 14th. It was cold in Los Angeles. We were working the day. Watch out. A burglary detail. My partner's Frank Smith, the boss Is Captain Bernard. My name's Friday. We're on our way out of the office and it was 8:05am when we got to Georgia Street Juvenile Bureau. Sergeant Lindsay Simmons office. Yeah. Well, did you give it to him? Uh huh. Yeah. What do you say? Yeah. When he come back? Uh huh. Well, did he have it for you? Yeah. Well, that'll teach you not to go that route anymore. All right, Patrick, tell the sergeant to call me when he gets back. Right. Hi, Friday Smith. Hi, Lindsay. Morning, Sergeant. Just talking to Gene Patrick over at Highland Park. You know him? Yeah, I met him a couple times. Picked up a youngster a couple of days ago on suspicion of burglary. Brought him into the office and Patrick talked to him. Yeah. Well, he finally bought it that the kid didn't have anything to do with the thefts. He told him to go home. Uh huh. Kid told Gene he didn't have the money to get home, so gene gave him 20 cents. Kid swore he'd come in and pay it back. Did he? Yeah, he came in this morning, gave Patrick two dimes, Told him thanks for believing the story. Then Patrick got the kicker. Kid really did break into a house last night to get the money. What's Patrick got to say about that? Says the kid's honest in a sort of way. Did pay him back. And where's the youngster now? Got him over Holland Park Juvenile. I better call Gene. Maybe I can give him a hand. I got a couple of streetcar tokens I won't be using. Might like to have them. Oh, hold it. If I was you, I don't think I'd bring it up to him for a couple of days. Well, what can I do for you too? Well, Lindsey, we've been working on a string of burglaries. You maybe got the word on them. I don't think so. What's the story? Bunch of store burglaries. Papers that tagged them. The milk bottle jobs. Oh yeah? Yeah. Seems Hartgrove was telling me something about them the other day. Where do we come in? Well, the way the jobs look, we've been thinking they maybe belong in your department instead of ours. How do you figure that? First off, the milk thing. What do you mean? Every job he's pulled, we found an empty milk bottle on the counter. Okay, what's that? Proof. Well, milk and kids go together. Sure, so do milk and ulcers. Maybe your thief's got the bull horrors when he gets into the store. No, Lindsay, there's another thing. The way he prowls the places all he takes is petty cash. Just a couple of bucks outside. Candy, cigarettes, nothing big. Some of the places he's gone into, you could open the safe with a pocket knife. And he hasn't even made a move toward him. Maybe he's a kleptomaniac. Got a lot of them on the books. Maybe that's the way he gets his kicks. Oh, it's a nice try, Lindsey. If you know anybody that can climb through a 14 by 10 inch hole, you trot him and we'll talk to him, Okay? I haven't got the names on my desk, but you take a trip to Santa Anita, you'll meet a lot of them jockeys you guys know. We'll go along with you on this thing. Anything we can do. But until we're sure that there's a juvenile involved, there's nothing we can do. Anything turns up, we'll be sure to turn over to you. Now, look, we're not trying to palm this thing off on you, Lindsay. We've had the stats office make so many runs on small adults that the cards are wearing out. It just seems that none of the leads we've been chasing come out anywhere. We figured that maybe you could come up with some answers for us. It's a new one on me, Joe, this milk bit. I've heard of a couple of thieves that went for it, but I can't name you a juvenile offhand. I'll pass the word around the day watch, see what they can come up with. I'll leave a note for Hartgrove. He can pass it on the night watch. Well, appreciate anything he can do. No trouble. Been running you ragged on this, huh? It's pretty rough. It's just that we can't seem to be able to come up with anything that adds. Yeah? Excuse me. Yeah? Georgia Street Juvenile. Sergeant Simmons. Yeah, yeah, they're here. Which one? Okay, hang on. For you, Joy. Your office. Thank you. Friday time. Yeah, right away. What's the address? Yeah, no, I got it. We'll leave right away. Who? Yeah, call him. Thanks. Oh, come on, let's go. The milk bottle kid, he hit again. The call had come from Lieutenant Ginder in Burglary. He told us that he'd just gotten a call from a storekeeper named Monty De Robertis. The man had called to report a burglary at his store at the corner of Jackson and Broadway streets. Lt. Ginder told us that the crime lab had been notified and had dispatched a crew to investigate the premises for physical evidence. Frank and I left Georgia Street Juvenile. We Drove over to Figueroa. Then we turned over onto Broadway. The store that had been broken into was a small Italian delicatessen on the southeast corner. By the time we got there, the crime lab crew had already arrived and was winding up their investigation. We walked into the place and we met with Ray Pinker. Hi, Joe. Frank, Ray. Hi, Ray. How's it going? Usual thing. Bottle of milk on the counter. You want to check it over? Yeah. Come on back here. Thief made his entrance back here at the rear of the store. There it is. Broke out the window pane. Yeah. Not very big, huh? Measures nine and a half by 12 and 3 quarters. No alarm on the window, huh? Yeah, you can see the wires. Here. Take a look. Oh, yeah. How come the alarm didn't go off? I talked to the owner. He said he's had trouble with the alarm system last couple of weeks. Called the company and asked him to fix it. He thought it was okay. Guess there's something wrong someplace. Didn't work last night. What kind of alarm was it, Ray? Outside on the building? Another kind. Yeah? What'd he take this time, Rick? Usual, Ron and stuff. According to the owner, there are about four cartons of cigarettes missing, several boxes of candy. Can't be absolutely sure. Said he's got a check his stock. Be better if you talk to him on that. Yeah, we will. We'll catch him later. Want to wait a minute? I'll check and see how the boys are doing on the prints. Had him check the counter in the milk bottle. Fine. Thanks, Ray. Be right back. Right. Well, I wonder when we're going to blow the whistle on this guy. I don't know. Can't do it fast enough for me. Well, I'm with you. Hey, Joe, look at this. You know, I'd like to get a couple of those before we leave. What are you talking about? Salami, Joe. Those right there. The hard Italian kind. See? Right there. Yeah. I remember last summer I was out in San Francisco. Yeah, I remember. Went up there to pick up a prisoner. Remember you were collecting days off? Yeah, I recall I had a hundred of them coming. Yeah, pretty funny. Anyway, I met Dan Shelley up there. You mean the Irish tenor? Yeah. He and I went down to Cookie's Bar for lunch. Cookie had some of this salami. Sliced it like paper. You could almost read through it. It's the way it's supposed to be. I know, Joe. Anyway, Cookie sliced up a bunch of it, served it with cold cracked crab. Boy, I never tasted anything so good in my life. Don't you ever Read the newspaper through sliced salami. Yeah. I never have. Have you? All the time. Just the funnies. Well, anyway, Faye's tried to find them for me. Salami liked this. Brought home all kind of things, but she's never found the right kind. You know, they'd be hard enough to pound tax with them. She got them home. Never forget old Cookie and that spread. Well, if you can get your mind off food for a minute, and I know that'll be tough. Let's get on with this thing, shall we? Yeah, sure. Gotta buy some of these before we leave. Just like cookie head. Yep. Just finished with Powder. Joe? Yeah? Nothing. Whoever it was drank the milk. He took the bottle out of the refrigeration compartment. Bottle sweated. And there isn't a print on it we can lift. That's too bad. None of them any place, huh? No. We've gone over the place from top to bottom through there. We can't find them. That's not much help, is it? Came up with one thing. Maybe you can make something out of it. What's that? Outside the window in the back parking lot. Came up with an open package of cigarettes. Don't know if it belonged to the thief. Anything on it? No. Fog last night ruined any prints that were on it. Boys have got it if you want. Well, we take a look at it. Looks like everything's against us, huh? Another blank. Don't envy you guys trying to break this one. Most of the time there's a leak someplace. Somewhere along the line the guy's gonna make a mistake and not cover something. Yeah, we've been saying that for weeks. This is either the smartest thief I've ever seen or the luckiest. What's this make for him? Number 19. A lot of chances to take from nothing. He's not getting anything out of the jobs. Maybe he isn't, but we are. What headaches. 9:38am we talked to the victim. He told us that as near as he could figure There was approximately $4 stolen from the store. Went on to say that he'd ascertained that five cartons of cigarettes and several boxes of candy bars were taken. He was unable to tell us if any other merchandise was taken until he'd made a complete inventory. He went on to tell us that There was over $600 in the safe but that as far as he could tell, there'd been no attempt to break into it. We made a canvas of the neighborhood and talked with the neighbors. None of them recalled having seen any suspicious people in the neighborhood. The night before, none of them had seen any suspicious automobiles in the area. The one thing that was apparent was that the thief was working in a definite pattern. He worked only on Friday and Saturday nights, always between 8pm and 12 midnight. Frank and I met with Captain Bernard and it was decided that we would maintain a rolling stakeout in the area in which the suspect operated. Four other cars from Metro reserves were assigned to work with us for the next five nights. We worked without results. It was slow and tedious, but considering the lack of information on the thief, it was the only way we had left. We had to be on or near the scene when the thief struck again. Saturday night, December 19th, Frank and I met and drove out to the area. The streets were crowded with early Christmas shoppers. I'll sure be glad when it's over. Why? What's the matter? How many rooms in your apartment, Joe? Three. You know that. You've been there? Yeah. There won't be enough room. What are you talking about? Faye. What's Faye got to do with this? Hack, Joe. Real hack. Why, what's the matter? I got up this morning, I felt great. Faye's got breakfast on the table all nice. Couple eggs, little pig sausages. Nice, you know? Yeah. I come down to the table, she's got the food on, and I hit her with it. What, the food? No, Joe. I hit her with what I'm about to tell her. I tell her I'm gonna have to work tonight. You worked every night this week. What's wrong with that? That's the way I figure it. So I got a way out. You have, huh? Today is Fay's birthday. Well, you didn't tell me. It's not good to tell people, Joe. Oh, it isn't? No. Fay's over 30. Yeah, I kind of figured that. Don't you get it? I'm sorry, pal. You left me a couple of blocks back on this one. Look, I may never catch up. Fay's over 30, Joe. She's getting to the point where she's taken off years. See? How can he give a person a last birthday present? Yeah, I'd tell you about it. You're gonna give her a present, only now, instead of 30, she's 29. You understand? Well, to be perfectly honest with you, no. But as long as you do, it's perfectly all right with me. Yeah? What about this morning? Well, I told her I was going to have to go to work. I got this present for her. Brand new deep fat fryer, real good, all wrapped up. Deep fat fryer? All wrapped up with ribbon. Beautiful. Shiny, beautiful. So you gave it to her? Did it do any good? Not a pound. You know what she does with it? Well, at this point, I wouldn't even want to guess. I'm serious, Joe. This may mean the end of my home. Go ahead. She doesn't even open it. Just puts it in the closet on the back porch. Doesn't even pull the paper apart to peek at what's in it. Real mad, Joe. She may not let me back in the house tonight. Well, you can apologize when you get home. I don't know, Joe. Faye's pretty sore. Didn't even open the present. Wait a minute. Give me a peep, huh? Listen. Yeah, tell where it's coming from. Yeah, sounds like up on seventh. Come on. Podbean. Your message amplified. Ready to share your message with the world? Start your podcast journey with Podbean. Podbean, the AI powered all in one podcast platform. Thousands of businesses and enterprises trust Podbean to launch their podcasts. Use Podbean to record your podcast. Use PodBean AI to optimize your podcast. 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