Dragnet: The Big Bungalow (EP4909)

Summary

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Podcast Summary: The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio

Episode: Dragnet: The Big Bungalow (EP4909)
Host: Adam Graham
Date: February 12, 2026

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Overview

This episode of The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio revisits "The Big Bungalow," a classic Dragnet case from November 15, 1951. The story follows Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner Ben Romero as they investigate an informant’s tip about a prolific burglar operating in Los Angeles. The episode takes listeners through the procedural steps, from initial contact with the informant to the unraveling and ultimate arrest of a seasoned criminal, all highlighting the indispensable role of informants in detective work.

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Key Discussion Points & Narrative Breakdown

1. Meeting With an Informant (02:22–11:00)

• Opening Premise:
  The show sets the stage: a burglary informant, Red Smalley, contacts the detectives worried for his safety but offering valuable information about a series of burglaries.
• At Johnny Kokin’s Café:
  • Joe Friday and Ben Romero meet Red Smalley, who reveals his knowledge of a burglar named Jeff Allen – an ex-con, recently arrived from Michigan, with a penchant for second-story jobs.
  • Red describes Allen’s MO: jimmying windows with a bench bar and working alone.
  • Red admits he only knows Allen by sight and emphasizes his own precarious situation: “If he gets the word I'm on your team, I’m a dead duck. I don’t think he’d waste a minute killing me.” (Red Smalley, 08:11)
  • Red discreetly requests financial help, which the detectives provide, reflecting the sometimes transactional, always fraught, relationship between informants and police.
• Investigator’s Reflection:
  • Friday considers the importance and often overlooked value of informants: “If your job is catching criminals and enforcing the law, this is the first rule you have to learn. The working detective is no better than his informants.” (Joe Friday, 09:58)

2. Background Checks and Initial Doubts (11:00–14:00)

• Digging for Leads:
  • The detectives check Allen’s record: a vagrancy arrest in L.A., a burglary history in Michigan, but no recent L.A. busts.
  • They cross-examine burglary cases fitting Allen’s MO, noting a lower-than-expected case count, and question Red’s veracity and motives.

3. Surveillance and Stakeout (13:27–17:32)

• Staking Out the 1322 Club:
  • After confirming Allen’s regular hangout via mug shots, Friday and Romero begin a stakeout near the bar, waiting hours before Allen finally appears.
  • They follow Allen’s car, registered to his employer (the club owner Carpenter), to a bungalow in a quiet neighborhood.
  • Observing his habits, they later search the bungalow and discover an expensive hunting rifle, which turns out to be stolen.

4. Comedic Interlude – The Golf Ball Story (17:32–19:00)

• Personal Dialogue:
  • During downtime, Ben shares a humorous anecdote about his wife sewing golf balls into his pajamas to curb his snoring—a rare light-hearted break that touches on the human side of police work.
  • “Rolled over on my back and stayed there. Slept on those golf balls all night. Woke up in the morning, like to have died. Felt like I’d snapped a couple of vertebrae.” (Ben Romero, 18:17)

5. Gathering Evidence and Confronting Allen (19:26–26:44)

• The Wrap-Around:
  • The stolen rifle links Allen to a prior burglary, validating Smalley’s tip.
  • Detectives set a new stakeout and, confronting Allen at work, bring him in for questioning.
  • Allen, at first courteous and cooperative, weaves a story of reform and insists on his innocence: “I told you I was all washed up with that stuff. I never lied to you, did I?” (Jeff Allen, 26:39)
• Shattering Denial:
  • Taken to the bungalow, Allen continues denying any connection, even as keys are found in his possession and the loot uncovered in the basement.
  • His evasiveness reaches near farce, with lines like: “She might be wrong. It’s possible.” (regarding the landlady who will identify him as the renter).

6. Resolution (27:00–27:36)

• Case Closed:
  • The narrator informs listeners that Allen’s arrest cleared 22 burglaries, resulting in his conviction.
  • The gravity of burglary as a repeat, premeditated offense is reinforced.

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Notable Quotes & Moments With Timestamps

• On Informants:
  • “If your job is catching criminals and enforcing the law, this is the first rule you have to learn. The working detective is no better than his informants.”
    – Joe Friday (09:58)
• Informant’s Fear:
  • “If he gets the word I'm on your team, I’m a dead duck. I don’t think he’d waste a minute killing me.”
    – Red Smalley (08:11)
• Comic Relief:
  • “Supposed to be an old home remedy. She sewed a couple of golf balls right into the back of my pajamas...Slept on those golf balls all night. Woke up in the morning, like to have died.”
    – Ben Romero (18:03–18:17)
• Allen’s Unconvincing Defense:
  • “This isn’t my place... I told you when I got out of that trouble back East. I made up my mind. I was all washed up with this kind of stuff.”
    – Jeff Allen (25:40)
  • “She might be wrong. It’s possible.”
    – Jeff Allen (26:07)

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Host Commentary (29:32–31:52)

Adam Graham’s Reflections:

• Adam expresses skepticism over Allen’s repeated denials:
  • “I would have a lot more respect for a criminal who clams up and takes the fifth rather than continuing on with the lame denials… I don't like a criminal who insults our intelligence, which I kind of feel like he did.” (29:32)
• He emphasizes that burglary is rarely a crime of impulse, but one of premeditation:
  • “You don’t just randomly burglarize a place. You’ve got to make sure that it’s worth burglarizing…"

Listener Feedback:

• Responding to comments about Dragnet tropes (31:52), Adam explains that Friday’s oft-quoted “Just the facts, ma’am” doesn’t actually appear in the show, and discusses the importance of letting witnesses narrate events in their own words, contrary to the stereotype.

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Important Segments & Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamp | |---------------------------------------|--------------| | Initial informant meeting | 03:29–11:00 | | Red Smalley describes Allen | 06:12–08:02 | | Reflections on the role of informants | 09:58–11:27 | | Reviewing burglary reports | 11:27–12:41 | | Stakeout at the 1322 Club | 13:27–14:13 | | Following Allen to the bungalow | 14:27–16:37 | | Finding the stolen rifle | 17:26–18:54 | | The golf ball pajamas story | 17:49–18:36 | | Confronting Allen, the denials mount | 21:06–26:44 | | Case resolution | 27:00–27:36 | | Host commentary and feedback | 29:32–31:52 |

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Tone and Language

• Original Feel:
  True to Dragnet, dialogue is clipped, procedural, and direct—interspersed with dry humor and characteristic 1950s phrasing.
• Host Tone:
  Adam Graham maintains a friendly, nostalgic, and analytical tone in his commentary, engaging with both the episode’s content and listener feedback.

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Conclusion

The Big Bungalow stands as a textbook Dragnet investigation – straightforward, detail-driven, and focused on realism. The episode not only solves a web of burglaries through steady detective work and informant trust but also gives listeners vintage banter and a glimpse into the social dynamics between police and their sources. Adam Graham’s commentary questions the plausibility of the suspect’s denials, underscores the calculated nature of burglary, and invites listeners not only to consume but to think critically about fictional crime-solving.

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Transcript

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[Adam Graham]

Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This is your host, Adam Graham. In a moment, we're going to bring you this week's episode Dragnet. But first, I do want to encourage you. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software. Today's program is also brought to you in part by the financial support of our listeners. You can support the show on a one time basis using the Zelle app. Send your donations to box [e-mail] and I want to thank Alberto for supporting the program. That way you can also become one of our ongoing Patreons supporters for as little as $2 per month. Just go to patreon.greatdetives.net but now, from November 15, 1951, here is the big bungalow.

[Narrator]

The story you are about to hear is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent. You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned a burglary detail. One of your informants contacts you by telephone. He says he wants to see you immediately. He claims knowledge of more than two dozen burglaries committed in your city. He offers the information despite threats against his own life. Your job? Investigate.

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.

[Joe Friday]

It was Monday, April 16. It was foggy in Los Angeles. We were working the day watch out of burglary detail. My partner's Ben Romero. The boss is Captain Wisdom. My name's Friday. We were on the way out from the office and it was 1:38pm when we got to the corner of North Main and Satello Street. Johnny Kokin's Cafe.

[Ben Romero]

Pretty well filled up. You want to sit at the counter?

[Joe Friday]

There's a booth over there in the corner. People are just leaving.

[Ben Romero]

Oh, yeah. Didn't see it.

[Joe Friday]

This is all right, isn't it?

[Red Smalley]

Yeah, fine.

[Ben Romero]

Oh, it smells good. I wonder what the special is today.

[Joe Friday]

Well, it's up there on the blackboard.

[Ben Romero]

Oh, yeah. Enchilada with cheese, coleslaw salad. Does smell pretty good, doesn't it? Wish I hadn't had lunch. I should have waited. I keep forgetting Monday's enchilada day down here. Sure like the way Johnny fixes.

[Narrator]

Hello, Friday.

[Joe Friday]

Ben.

[Roberta]

How are you?

[Ben Romero]

Friday. Roberta.

[Roberta]

Here. Get these dirty dishes out of the way.

[Joe Friday]

Okay, fine.

[Roberta]

Is it gonna be the special?

[Ben Romero]

No, we forgot today was Monday. We had lunch already.

[Roberta]

Too bad. What'll it be? Just coffee.

[Ben Romero]

Yeah, it's fun.

[Roberta]

Friday?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. Same for me, Roberta. Both of them black, I guess.

[Roberta]

Okay, two blacks.

[Joe Friday]

Say, you haven't seen Smalley around this afternoon, have you, Roberta? Red Smalley, Red.

[Roberta]

No, I haven't seen him for a couple of days.

[Joe Friday]

Okay.

[Ben Romero]

Thought he said to meet him here at 1:30.

[Joe Friday]

Well, he'll be along. He's never been on time as long as I've known him.

[Jeff Allen]

Yeah?

[Ben Romero]

I wonder what's eating him. He sounded a little excited on the phone.

[Joe Friday]

They give you any idea what it was all about?

[Ben Romero]

No, just said it was important. Had to see it. Hey, I just thinking maybe I could handle one of those enchiladas after all. There's Red.

[Red Smalley]

All right, fellas. Hope I ain't late.

[Ben Romero]

All right.

[Red Smalley]

Been a long time. Yeah.

[Ben Romero]

Sit down, Red. Good to see you.

[Red Smalley]

Yeah, thanks. What's new with you anyway?

[Joe Friday]

Not too much. How's it with you?

[Roberta]

Here you are. Two coffees, black. How are you, Red?

[Red Smalley]

Hungry. What about a hamburger steak, huh? Some coffee too.

[Roberta]

Hamburger steak and coffee.

[Ben Romero]

Right. You look in pretty fair shape, Reg. You working steady now?

[Red Smalley]

Well, you know how it goes. On again, off again. Put in a full month playing barboy at Ziggy's joint place down in South Maine, you know.

[Narrator]

Mm.

[Ben Romero]

What happened there?

[Red Smalley]

Business fell off and Ziggy said he had to let me go. Been kind of thin ever since. I'm hustling programs out of the racetrack right now. It's not too bad. Can't afford to bet, but I get to see the races free. You can't have everything, I guess.

[Joe Friday]

I understand you're a little worried about something, Red. Anything serious?

[Red Smalley]

Well, yeah, might be. My guy's telling Romero on the phone. Wouldn't do me no good if it got out. I mean, me talking to you about it. You know, he'd probably tie a can to my tail if he knew I told you. Who's that guy by the name of Jeff Allen. Know him?

[Joe Friday]

No. It doesn't sound familiar to me, Ben.

[Ben Romero]

Me neither. Who is he, Red?

[Red Smalley]

Second story worker. Lots of savvy, too. He's fell a couple of times on burglary wraps. Knows his business, so I got a lot of moxie.

[Ben Romero]

How long has he been in town?

[Red Smalley]

You know, about six months, I think. He come from the East, Finished the stretch back in Michigan. He's a real pro.

[Joe Friday]

What's he doing out here, Red?

[Red Smalley]

Well, matter of fact, that's what I want to talk to you about. Figure maybe you ought to know. Yeah, he's doing real good, the way I get it. I heard him and a couple other guys talking about it one night down at Ziggy's. They were having a couple of beers. Guess they didn't think I could hear him.

[Joe Friday]

What'd they have to say?

[Red Smalley]

This guy Allen was running off about how good he was doing, how many places he knocked over in the last couple of months, how much stuff he took.

[Ben Romero]

What's he look like, Ren?

[Red Smalley]

Oh, pretty average. About my height, dark hair, little scar right here in his chin. About 160, 70, maybe 36 years old. Usually wears leather jacket and black one.

[Roberta]

All right, Red, here you go. Burger, steak, coffee.

[Red Smalley]

Yeah, fine. Sure got a good appetite these days. Working out in the air, you know? It does you good.

[Ben Romero]

Yeah?

[Jeff Allen]

Yeah.

[Red Smalley]

I say, you want to pass around by the patches, are you?

[Ben Romero]

Oh, yeah. Here you go.

[Jeff Allen]

Good.

[Joe Friday]

These burglary jobs Alan's supposed to be pulling, Red, where's he working them, do you know that?

[Red Smalley]

No, I guess I don't. All over town, I suppose.

[Narrator]

Sure.

[Red Smalley]

Good hamburger.

[Joe Friday]

When you overheard him talking to his friends, did he mention any jobs in particular that he pulled?

[Red Smalley]

No, but he's working hard. I know that for a fact. He pulls a new one every week or so, the way I get it.

[Ben Romero]

And what about his mo, Red?

[Red Smalley]

Regular second story routine. He uses a jimmy or a small bench bar. Usually goes through a window.

[Ben Romero]

Does he work alone?

[Johnny Dollar]

Uh huh.

[Red Smalley]

Strictly. His French bread's nice and fresh.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. Where's Alan staying in town? Do you know, Red?

[Red Smalley]

No, I don't. I know where you can find him, though. A 1322 club out on North Parish. He hangs out there quite a bit almost every night. I think the guy who owns the joint should find a head.

[Joe Friday]

Jeff Allen. Is that supposed to be his right name, Red?

[Red Smalley]

As far as I know.

[Adam Graham]

Huh.

[Red Smalley]

I only met him a couple of times. He hung around Ziggy's place when he first come to town. Of course, I didn't know what he was up to then.

[Joe Friday]

Do you know him well enough to talk to him?

[Red Smalley]

Well, just about, yeah. I'm not buddies with him or anything. That's why I don't want him to get out. You know, if he gets the word I'm on your team, I'm a dead duck. I don't think he'd waste a minute killing me.

[Ben Romero]

You don't have to worry, Red. We'll keep it quiet. Did you hear anything else, or is that just about the size of them?

[Red Smalley]

No, that's just about it, fellas. I'll keep near the ground. If I get any more rumbles, I'll pass it on. Well, guess you know, I really hate.

[Joe Friday]

To talk about it.

[Ben Romero]

What's that, Red?

[Red Smalley]

I mean, how bad things have been running lately, you know, since I got laid off with Ziggy's. My hustle like mad with the programs down the track. Doesn't bring in a whole lot, though. And that lousy landlady. Had I raised my rent last week.

[Ben Romero]

Mm.

[Joe Friday]

How much can you use, Red?

[Red Smalley]

Well, you know, as hard as anything at all, just let alone maybe something.

[Joe Friday]

To help me over the home.

[Ben Romero]

Well, the only thing I have is a 20. Joe, you got any change?

[Red Smalley]

Thanks, Rome. 20'll be fine. That's plenty. I sure appreciate that.

[Ben Romero]

Oh, yeah.

[Red Smalley]

Well, real good hamburger steak. Johnny puts out. I gotta get going. Fowler's got me down the track.

[Joe Friday]

All right, Red. Thanks a lot. If there's anything else, call us, huh? You got our number.

[Red Smalley]

Sure thing. I'll stay right on it. You want me for anything, holler, huh? I'm still at the same place.

[Ben Romero]

Right.

[Red Smalley]

Thanks a lot, huh? See you later.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. Take it easy, Red.

[Ben Romero]

Yeah. Bye, Red. He's getting a little expensive, huh?

[Joe Friday]

He's probably been having a rough time, but he looked hungry to me.

[Ben Romero]

Sure did grab that 20, bill like his life depended on him. I went to buy some new wool socks with that.

[Joe Friday]

Well, I'll split it with you. Be worth more than 20 bucks if the tip pays off.

[Ben Romero]

Don't get me wrong. I didn't mind giving him the 20 bucks. It was worth it. But look at this here.

[Joe Friday]

Oh, you have to check for the food, huh?

[Jeff Allen]

Yeah.

[Ben Romero]

I think the least he could have done was pay for his own lunch.

[Joe Friday]

By and large, the character of the informant, in fact or fiction, isn't generally regarded with too much sympathy. To most people, the informant's nothing more than a stool pigeon, a squealer, somebody who, by the very act of informing, commits a sin against a supposedly popular unwritten law. Well, it's obvious that this isn't always so, because in the interests of law enforcement and justice, which means the betterment of the community, the informant very often plays a major role. Year after year, informants are responsible for the apprehension and conviction of many hundreds of criminals. People who rob and cheat and commit murder. Crimes that are obviously far deadlier than informing. As for the mechanics of law enforcement, at the level of the working detective, the informant is considered virtually indispensable. It's been said before by peace officers and it'll probably be said again quite a few times. If your job is catching criminals and enforcing the law, this is the first rule you have to learn. The working detective is no better than his informants. 2:12pm Ben and I had no idea if the information we'd gotten from Red Smalley was authentic or not. But it had to be checked out. We went back to the office and had Frank Cunningham and R and I check on Jeff Allen. We also had the stats office make a run for us on suspects with similar MOs. Then we started to page through reports of burglaries which had occurred throughout the city during the past three months. How you doing over there? Anything at all?

[Ben Romero]

Not too much. Wait a minute. Maybe this might be one of them.

[Joe Friday]

Here, let me see.

[Ben Romero]

Home in Hollenbeck park neighborhood. Burglar's MO matches out in a time element too. Happened six weeks ago. Window on the second floor of the house was pried open. They took furs and money. $23?

[Joe Friday]

Uh huh. That's the only one you found another.

[Ben Romero]

One here I took out a minute ago. Mo's pretty much the same on this one too. Only thing different is the night of the week it happened on. This one's a Thursday. That one there's a Sunday.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, checks out pretty close otherwise. The only one thing I can't figure.

[Red Smalley]

What's that?

[Joe Friday]

Well, Alan's supposed to have been in the city for at least six months. According to Red, he's working a job maybe once a week. Once every 10 days or so. Now you got two reports there that match his M.O. here. I picked out two more from that other pile. Seems to me if he's been working in town for a couple of months, there ought to be more than four reports on him.

[Ben Romero]

Shouldn't he? Hi, Guy. Burglary and Merrill. Oh, yeah, Frank.

[Narrator]

Mm.

[Ben Romero]

Jeff Allen. That so you have, huh? Okay. Right, Frank. Thank you. Yeah. R and I gotta make on Alan. He's had one arrest here four years ago in a vag charge. He's a loser out of Michigan. Fell for burglary. Never been picked up for burglary here, though. He isn't registered.

[Joe Friday]

That's all, huh?

[Ben Romero]

That's it.

[Joe Friday]

Doesn't seem to gel right to me. Does it to you?

[Ben Romero]

Lot of loose ends to figure out.

[Joe Friday]

I wonder if Red was handing us a line on this thing.

[Ben Romero]

Why would he?

[Joe Friday]

Well, maybe he needed that $20 touch. Maybe. This Jeff Allen's an old pal of his. Red had a falling out with him. He wants to get even with him, I suppose.

[Ben Romero]

Possible, I guess.

[Narrator]

I don't know.

[Red Smalley]

Hi, Joe.

[Jeff Allen]

Ben.

[Ben Romero]

Oh, hello, neighbor.

[Joe Friday]

What are you saying? What's with you? You still on that steak out south end of town?

[Ben Romero]

Yeah, third week.

[Red Smalley]

Sure getting dull.

[Joe Friday]

You two look busy.

[Red Smalley]

What's all this?

[Ben Romero]

Oh, we got a tip on some prowl artists trying to get a line on him.

[Joe Friday]

Take a look at this 3.1, will you, Jim? You run into any jobs recently to stack up like this in here?

[Red Smalley]

Let's see.

[Joe Friday]

We're shooting in the dark on it so far. I don't know if we got anything or not.

[Red Smalley]

I'd say you got it.

[Jeff Allen]

Burglary Port in 77 Division this morning. Happened to check it when I was out there.

[Joe Friday]

Same ammo as this.

[Jeff Allen]

Same everything.

[Joe Friday]

4:55Pm Ben and I went down the hall to the Record Bureau and picked up a couple of mug shots of the suspect, Jefferson Allen. Then we drove out to the 1322 Club on North Ferris Avenue in the Silver Lake District. The neighborhood bar where Alan spent most of his time. According to our informant, Read Smalley. We staked out on the car down the street where we could keep an eye on the front door to the bar and still not look suspicious. Between 5 and 7:30pm we watched at least two dozen customers entering or leaving the bar. But none of them came close to Alan's description. 8:00pm Nothing. By the time we were relieved on stakeout at 11pm Alan still had failed to show. Late the following afternoon, we were back at the same spot watching for a sign of the suspect.

[Ben Romero]

6:48Pm how you fix for smokes?

[Joe Friday]

I think I got a couple left now. Here you go.

[Ben Romero]

Oh, thanks.

[Joe Friday]

I got a light here.

[Ben Romero]

Hey, have a look, Joe. Gray hat, dark suit, just came out of the bar.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, he's coming this way. Yeah, I'll buy it.

[Ben Romero]

That's him getting in that blue sedan.

[Joe Friday]

All right, don't press him. Let's give him a good leave.

[Jeff Allen]

Right.

[Joe Friday]

He's getting in.

[Ben Romero]

What do you think, Joe?

[Joe Friday]

Let's wait a minute. Yeah. Okay, we're clear. All right. You got him spotted.

[Ben Romero]

Yeah, no trouble. That's a funny one, huh? Wonder why we didn't see him go in the bar.

[Joe Friday]

I don't know. Might be a delivery entrance in the back of the place we could have missed.

[Ben Romero]

Can you make out that license number?

[Joe Friday]

Can you pull out just a little? That's good. Yeah. Let's see. 7 Tom 797 2. I better check it. 80K to Control 18 okay to Control 1.

[Roberta]

Control 1 to 80K.

[Joe Friday]

Go ahead Control 1. Request rolling make and DMV on 7 Tom 797. That's 7 Tom 797 2.

[Roberta]

Troll 1 to 80K. Rogers, stand by. KMA 367.

[Ben Romero]

Doesn't seem to be any great hurry. Barely poking along.

[Joe Friday]

Where is he now? I can't see.

[Ben Romero]

Just turned right onto Bronson. I want to give him plenty of lead. Yeah, that's him up ahead there.

[Joe Friday]

He's picking up speed now. Don't lose him.

[Ben Romero]

Right.

[Roberta]

Control 1 to 80K. Control 1 to 80K. Okay, come in please.

[Joe Friday]

Here we go. 80K to Control 1. Go ahead.

[Roberta]

7 Tom 797 2. The car is registered to D Denver J John Carpenter, 1322 North Ferris Avenue, Los Angeles.

[Joe Friday]

80K to Control 1.

[Commercial Announcer]

Roger.

[Joe Friday]

KMA 367 Carpenter.

[Ben Romero]

Same guy, owns a bar. Isn't it his? Allen must know him pretty well.

[Joe Friday]

Well enough to use his car. Wonder what the pitch is there. You checked on Carpenter, didn't you?

[Jeff Allen]

Yeah.

[Ben Romero]

Clean bill of health. No record.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Ben Romero]

Up ahead there. Now he's slowing down.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, Turning up on that driveway. Pull up under that tree there, huh? Right. That's fine.

[Ben Romero]

See him?

[Joe Friday]

Uh huh. Getting out. Going into that bungalow over there. Letting himself in the front door.

[Ben Romero]

No sign of anybody else there, huh?

[Joe Friday]

No. House was dark when we drove up, wasn't it?

[Ben Romero]

He couldn't be living there alone.

[Joe Friday]

He might be.

[Ben Romero]

Doesn't make much sense to me. Why would a single guy get himself a house that big?

[Joe Friday]

Well, let's wait it out. Maybe he'll come up with the answer. 9:15pm we continued our stake out on the bungalow on South Bronson Avenue. A little more than an hour passed when we saw the lights go out in the house. The suspect, Jeff Allen, came out the front door. Locked up, got in his car and drove off. Ben and I followed him. He drove directly to the bar on North Ferris Avenue, the 1322 Club. He parked his car and went inside. Ben and I drove back to the cottage on South Bronson and let ourselves in through the back door. A preliminary check of the house failed to give us any real proof that Alan was the suspect we wanted. The only possible lead we came up with was an expensive hunting rifle which we found stored away in one of the closets. We copied down the serial number on the gun, drove to a neighborhood cigar store, called the office and asked him to check out the number for us.

[Ben Romero]

Yeah, right, Murph. We'll wait for the call. Yeah, thanks.

[Joe Friday]

How'd you do?

[Ben Romero]

Gonna check it through now. They'll call us.

[Jeff Allen]

Good.

[Joe Friday]

I'm a little hungry, aren't you? Do you like candy bar? No.

[Ben Romero]

I'm getting a little tired of him. I wouldn't mind a square meal, though. My back's killing me. Never been so sore in my life.

[Joe Friday]

Why? What's the matter? Did you fall?

[Ben Romero]

No, nothing like that. It's my snoring again.

[Joe Friday]

You're snoring? What's that got to do with it?

[Ben Romero]

Almost broke my back. It's a wife's idea. She claims when I'm sleeping, I roll over on my back and snore. Says it keeps her awake all night.

[Joe Friday]

Not much you can do about it, is there?

[Ben Romero]

Yeah, the wife thought of something. Supposed to be an old home remedy. She sewed a couple of golf balls right into the back of my pajamas. You get the idea behind it? If you roll over on your back, the golf balls dig into you and you have to roll over on your side again.

[Joe Friday]

So what happened to you?

[Ben Romero]

Well, I'm a sound sleeper. Rolled over on my back and stayed there. Slept on those golf balls all night. Woke up in the morning, like to have died. Felt like I'd snapped a couple of vertebrae.

[Joe Friday]

Must be an easier way to keep you from sleeping on your back.

[Ben Romero]

It wouldn't do any good anyhow, Joe. It just won't work.

[Joe Friday]

What do you mean?

[Ben Romero]

I snore just as loud sleeping on my side.

[Joe Friday]

I get it. Hello? Yeah, Murph, this is Joe Friday. Mm. W615344. Yeah, that checks. That was a serial number on. When was that? Uh huh. Yeah.

[Adam Graham]

Yeah.

[Joe Friday]

Okay, Murph. Thanks.

[Jeff Allen]

Bye.

[Joe Friday]

I think maybe we got a break. Yeah, they got a make on the gun we found.

[Ben Romero]

Is it registered to Allen?

[Joe Friday]

No, it was taken in a burglary two months ago.

[Narrator]

You are listening to Dragnet. Authentic stories of your police force in action.

[Joe Friday]

Tuesday night, April 17, 10:38pm we got additional information from the office on the hunting rifle that we'd found in the bungalow to which we'd trailed the suspect, Jefferson Allen, a few hours earlier. The gun was registered to a Mr. Robert LaSalle, 3008 Bush Street. The rifle, along with $300 in jewelry and 48 in cash, had been taken from LaSalle's home two months before during his family's absence. The burglar's method of operation matched Allen's alleged M.O. exactly. 10:45pm after arranging for a stakeout to be placed on the bungalow on Bronson Avenue, Ben and I drove to the 1322 Club on North Ferris, where we located the suspect. Jeff Allen?

[Jeff Allen]

Yes, sir, that's correct, Sergeant. I'm from back in Michigan originally. Been out here about six, six months now. Think I'm gonna like it?

[Narrator]

Sure.

[Jeff Allen]

Can't beat this weather.

[Ben Romero]

You've been working here at the bar ever since you got in town, is that right?

[Jeff Allen]

No, not quite. I've been here for about four months. Kind of a handyman job. I help the bartender when I can. Keep the storeroom in order. See, everything ship shaped, you know?

[Joe Friday]

Uh huh. You ever been in Los Angeles before, Alan?

[Jeff Allen]

Yeah, just once before, a couple of years ago. Wasn't so good then. Jobs were hard to get. I ran into a little bit of trouble. Finally went back east again.

[Joe Friday]

I see. What was this trouble you had?

[Jeff Allen]

Well, as I say, jobs were pretty hard to come by then. I kept checking around, but I couldn't find anything. Wasn't so good. I finally got picked up on a bag charge. Spent a couple of weeks at the county. When I got out, I figured the best thing was to head back east again. A lot better this time, though. I'm doing okay, see. I couldn't get you anything.

[Joe Friday]

No, thanks. It's the same.

[Jeff Allen]

There's something maybe you'd like to talk to me about. Anything I can help you out with?

[Ben Romero]

It's a routine checkup. We're on. Got a few more questions for you, if you don't mind.

[Narrator]

Sure.

[Jeff Allen]

Let's take one of these booths back here, huh? Might as well be comfortable.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, okay, go ahead.

[Jeff Allen]

You sure I couldn't get you anything? A bottle of beer, Coke maybe?

[Joe Friday]

No, no thanks.

[Ben Romero]

You have your family out here with you, Alan?

[Joe Friday]

Your wife?

[Jeff Allen]

No, I'm not married, Sergeant. I haven't taken the plunge yet. Figure there's plenty of time for that. Hard enough to keep myself going these days. Let alone a family.

[Ben Romero]

Yeah, I know what you mean.

[Joe Friday]

You ever been arrested before, Alan? I mean, other than that vague charge you mentioned. You ever served any big time?

[Jeff Allen]

Yeah, matter of fact, I have, back in Michigan. Pretty dumb trick. I got in trouble as a kid. Burglary. Served all my time, though. I don't owe him a day. I'm washed up with that stuff a long time ago. It just doesn't pay, that's all.

[Joe Friday]

Then that last time there was any trouble was that vag charge, is that it?

[Jeff Allen]

Yes, sir. That's. As I say, I'm all washed up with that stuff. It doesn't pay off at all. I got wise to that.

[Ben Romero]

Glad to hear it, Alan. You figure you're gonna stay on here, then? Make this your permanent home?

[Jeff Allen]

Yeah, I think I might. I sure like the weather. Job suits me, too. Boss even lets me use his car once in a while. Pretty nice, huh?

[Ben Romero]

Yeah.

[Joe Friday]

Where you living now? You got an apartment in the neighborhood here?

[Jeff Allen]

Yeah, I got an apartment. Nice little place. Not exactly in the neighborhood, though. It's out in West Hollywood. Right on a bus line. No trouble getting into work. Just a small apartment.

[Ben Romero]

Whereabouts in West Hollywood? You mind giving us the address?

[Jeff Allen]

No, it's on Norwich Avenue.

[Ben Romero]

Why do you ask? It's part of this routine check. We have to make you mind very much if we drive out there with you. I'll look the place over.

[Jeff Allen]

No, I don't mind. I mean, if you figure I need checking out, I'd just as soon clear it up now. I got nothing to hide. You want me to get my coat?

[Joe Friday]

No, that's all right.

[Jeff Allen]

Say, I should be back here in an hour or so. What do you think? I mean, it's just a routine check. It won't take long, will it?

[Joe Friday]

No, not too long. I suppose you can figure that better than we can.

[Jeff Allen]

How do you mean?

[Joe Friday]

You said you had Nothing to hide. 11:20pm we drove the suspect, Jeff Allen, to his apartment on Norwich Avenue. It was more than two and a half miles from the bungalow on South Bronson where we'd followed Alan earlier that night and where we located the stolen hunting rifle. While Ben and I made a thorough check of the apartment, Alan sat relaxed in an easy chair. Ben and I covered everything in the apartment. But there was no evidence of any loot taken in the burglaries.

[Ben Romero]

That's about it. Joe checked everything.

[Joe Friday]

Okay.

[Jeff Allen]

That's about it, U.S. sergeant. You fellas want a beer before we go back to the club?

[Joe Friday]

Just one or two more questions. Alan and I think we can wash this thing up.

[Jeff Allen]

Sure, Sergeant.

[Joe Friday]

Do you rent some other place in town? Another house or an apartment maybe?

[Jeff Allen]

Another place?

[Narrator]

No.

[Jeff Allen]

Why would I do that? This is my apartment. This is where I live. Why do you ask that?

[Joe Friday]

About six o' clock tonight, you were seen going into a bungalow over on South Bronson. The same neighborhood as the club where you work. We got a pretty good idea that there's quite a bit of loot from burglary stored in that house.

[Jeff Allen]

I don't follow you, Sergeant. I don't know what you mean. I don't live on South Bronson. I live here. You ought to be able to tell.

[Ben Romero]

That you were seen going into the bungalow, Allen, about five minutes past six tonight. We found a stolen hunting rifle in the house. It was taken in a burglary. You think you want to tell us about it?

[Jeff Allen]

No, I can't tell you anything about it. I don't have any bungalow on South Bronson. I'm not even sure I can tell you where the street is.

[Joe Friday]

Well, you better get your hat, mister. We'll show you. 11:48pm we got in the car and started driving down Beverly Boulevard back toward the bungalow on South Bronson Avenue. When we got to the bungalow, the suspect still refused to admit that he had a key to the door or that he was in any way concerned with a place. We had him empty his pockets, and among his possessions we found a ring of keys. We tried them on the front door of the bungalow. The fourth one we tried opened it, we went inside. Allen still would admit nothing. Ben contacted the landlady next door. She said she'd be right over. I continued questioning him while Ben checked through the house again.

[Ben Romero]

Hey, Joe. Joe, you want to come back here? I think we got some.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. All right, Ben. You want to go ahead back there, Alan?

[Ben Romero]

Sure.

[Jeff Allen]

Okay. Still can't tell you what the score is, though. I don't belong in this place. It ain't mine.

[Joe Friday]

Well, that key you had seemed to fit the front door all right. How do you figure that?

[Jeff Allen]

That doesn't mean anything. I had that key for years. I think it's a skeleton key. Opens almost any kind of lock down here, Joe.

[Ben Romero]

Small basement here. Leads right down off the kitchen.

[Narrator]

Yeah.

[Ben Romero]

All right.

[Joe Friday]

Go ahead, Alice.

[Narrator]

Have a look.

[Ben Romero]

Joe. Line of cupboards all the way around here. Check them for yourself.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, it's a pretty good haul. Furs, machinist tools, jewelry. Quite a bit of it here. Couple of radios, two more hunting rifles. Come on. How about it, Alan? You want to save time for all of us.

[Jeff Allen]

Now, you got it wrong, Sergeant. This isn't my place. I told you when I got out of that trouble back East. I made up my mind. I was all washed up with this kind of stuff. This house isn't mine. Haven't got anything to do with it.

[Ben Romero]

You're kidding yourself, Alan, you know that?

[Jeff Allen]

No, you got it all wrong. You got it all mixed up.

[Ben Romero]

Well, we'll let the landlady tell us.

[Joe Friday]

The woman who owns this house, she's on her way over from next door. She ought to be able to tell us who she rented the place to. Wouldn't you say so?

[Ben Romero]

Wouldn't you?

[Jeff Allen]

She might be wrong. It's possible.

[Joe Friday]

No. Look, we got you dead to rights, mister. Why not face it?

[Jeff Allen]

Can't. Won't do it. I made up my mind the last time it wouldn't happen again. I was all washed up with it. I won't go through it again. They'll send me back. I won't be able to take it.

[Ben Romero]

Maybe you should have figured that before you started in.

[Jeff Allen]

I didn't mean to. I was all washed up with that stuff. I told you that the first time I saw you, didn't I? Yeah, sure of it, too. I wouldn't try it again.

[Red Smalley]

Didn't pay.

[Jeff Allen]

It's just what I told you. I'm all through with it. I'm washed up with it. I never lied to you, did I?

[Joe Friday]

What's the difference? You lied to yourself.

[Narrator]

The story you have just heard was true. The names were changed to protect the innocent.

On July 6, trial was held in Superior Court Department 86, City and County of Los Angeles, State of California. In a moment, the results of that trial. The apprehension of the suspect, Jefferson Harold Allen. Resulted in clearing 22 cases of burglaries committed over the past four months. Allen was indicted on 22 counts of first degree burglary. And received sentence as prescribed by law. First degree burglary is punishable by imprisonment in the state penitentiary for not less than five years.

Ladies and gentlemen. Only 2.6 patients out of every hundred reaching the most forward hospitals in Korea died later. The comparable figure in World War II was 4.5. According to official medical statements. The almost miraculous success in saving the lives of casualties. Is owing in part to the prompt use of blood plasma on the battlefield and whole blood in military hospitals. Whole blood reduces shock, a potential killer, and replaces blood lost through bleeding. In the treatment of many battle casualties. There's no substitute for blood. Every American who has given blood can and should feel he personally has contributed directly to the saving of the life of an American boy. This month, your country is short 300,000 pints of blood. Please give your blood and save a life.

You have just heard Dragnet a series of authentic cases from official files. Technical advice comes from the office of Chief of Police W.H. parker, Los Angeles Police Department.

Today's the silver anniversary of NBC.

[Commercial Announcer]

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[Adam Graham]

Welcome back. Our suspect kind of got to a point where I was like, oh, come on now. Certainly I respect that a criminal does not have to choose to incriminate him or herself, but I would have a lot more respect for a criminal who clams up and takes the fifth rather than continuing on with the lame denials. I mean, when they got to the point where they were going to bring the landlady over and he was like, well, she could be mistaken, you know, before she'd even identified him, I was like, oh, come on. And kind of the same thing with his insistence that, you know, his statement that he was done with that after he got out of prison, which they were supposed to take as something that indicated his good intentions. But I have so much trouble buying that. Now. Let's be clear. There are crimes that you can commit on a whim. You know, you get back into the wrong sort of environment and you make a bad choice, and you can find yourself committing a similar crime, reoffending. But burglary is such a premeditated crime. You don't just randomly burglarize a place. You've got to make sure that it's worth burglarizing. And you've got also got to make sure that it's a place that you can access without being easily detected. So I don't like a criminal who insults our intelligence, which I kind of feel like he did. All right, listener comments and feedback now. And we have a couple of comments on Spotify regarding the big lease. Mechanic 66 writes, after hearing Harry Bartel try a Mexican accent, I'm glad he didn't try a French accent on that escape episode with Jack Webb as an OSS agent. And then Harrison says, she might have been a criminal, but at least she could properly pronounce Julio, credit where credit is due, I guess. And then Lucifer, Sam says, hey, Adam. Joe says, all we know are the facts, ma'. Am. At the 20 minute mark, I think that's the closest I've heard to just the facts, ma'.

[Johnny Dollar]

Am.

[Narrator]

Yeah.

[Adam Graham]

And of course, I think it's a very different context because in that case he was explaining their investigation, but the framing, and it comes, I think from the Stanford Burke parody. And the way it gets interpreted is that that's something that Joe Friday says when questioning witnesses. And it's not. And I mean, I think there are two things I hate about that idea. Number one it's. And second is that I think it's a bad way to question witnesses because the witnesses. And one thing that I think you do hear from Dragnet, and I think it's a very good lesson, is that not everyone understands what the pertinent facts are. And there are details that are going to be forgotten, particularly if you sit there and you, you rush the witness. And where they tend to have some success is by questioning the witness, letting them tell the story as they experienced it, asking follow up questions. And then if, and there are some times where a witness just goes completely off the rails, where we have gone so far from any sort of relevance that they need to get them back on track. And so what Friday will say in that instance is, oh, that's very interesting, ma', am, but now I'd like to talk a little bit more about the car you saw. Could you tell us? And then pushes it back towards what's relevant. But I appreciate the comment and the opportunity to go on more about why I don't like that iconic phrase that is associated with one of my favorite programs, programs, but was never actually said in it. All right, now let's go ahead and thank our Patreon supporter of the day. And I want to thank Lisa, Patreon, Supporter, since August 2025, currently supporting the podcast at the Showmas level of $4 or more per month. Thanks so much for your support, Lisa. That will do it for today. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software and be sure to rate and review the podcast wherever you you download it from. We will be back next Thursday with another episode of Dragnet, but join us back here tomorrow for yours truly, Johnny Dollarware.

[Johnny Dollar]

It just happens that right now I can use a few extra bucks. Quite a few. So what's the deal? Well, as a matter of fact, I hadn't thought in terms of any fee on this one. Oh, but of course, we'll pay whatever expenses you may incur. Oh, you trust me with my expense account, Fritz? Are you kidding? Of course not. Okay, then. Now that we understand each other, what's the problem? Or rather, who's the problem? John Wakefield Edwards. Ever hear of him? No, I can't say that I have. Retired businessman. Leather goods, I think it was. He lives just outside of Albany, New York. Then what's happened to him? Well, nothing that I know of, but he has a lot of insurance with us, including a straight life policy worth 155,000. How old is he, Chris? In his late 60s. Married. His wife died three or four years ago. Then who's the beneficiary? His adopted daughter, Marilyn. And how old is she? In her late 20s. She's a very attractive girl. I understand. Then who cares about a plea, Fritz? I'll take the assignment. Easy, Johnny. You probably won't even see her. Oh, why not? But she lives and works over in Troy. Ah. Well, what's happened to me, old man? Well, he called me a few minutes ago and asked, or rather demanded, that I send you over to see him immediately. Yeah, why? He wouldn't say. What he did say, though, just before he hung up, is that under no circumstances are you to let her know that you're coming. Meaning Barrowyn? I would assume so. I wonder. So do I, Johnny.

[Adam Graham]

I hope you'll be with us then. In the meantime, do send your comments to box13eightdetives.net follow us on Twitter radiodetectives. Check us out on Instagram instagram.com greatdetectives from Boise, Idaho, this is your host, Adam Graham, signing off.