Dragnet: The Big In-Laws (EP4834)

Summary

The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio — Dragnet: "The Big In-Laws" (EP4834) Podcast Host: Adam Graham | Episode Date: October 30, 2025

---

Episode Overview

This episode features an original broadcast of Dragnet from August 23, 1951, titled "The Big In-Laws.” Detectives Friday and Romero investigate a coordinated string of hijackings targeting merchandise-laden trucks in Los Angeles. The case takes a personal turn, as the pressures of family life and "in-laws" factor into both the detectives’ lives and the motivations of the criminals they pursue. After the dramatization, host Adam Graham provides commentary, context, and listener feedback.

---

Key Discussion Points and Segments

1. Opening & Premise (01:58–03:00)

• The narrator introduces the episode as an actual case from LAPD files.
• Main case: A series of sophisticated truck hijackings—with thieves making the cargo and drivers disappear without a trace. Detectives must “stop them.”

  “The story you are about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent.” (01:58, Narrator)

2. The Home Front: Romero's In-Law Woes (03:19–04:11)

• Romero arrives at work stressed about his house being overrun by his in-laws, highlighting the ongoing theme of domestic pressure.

  “Did you have an argument with your wife in-laws? They're visiting again. Six of them.” (03:39, Ben Romero)

3. The Hijacking Investigation (04:12–08:33)

• Friday and Romero interview Frank Burroughs, a truck driver who was hijacked. He describes being forced by the hijackers to wear blackout goggles and then being transferred between vehicles. Suspicion initially falls on Burroughs due to a past hijacking arrest, but his alibi clears.

  "Well, it's their cargo. A whole load of whiskey. If somebody hijacks it, I figured the company ought to be the first to know." (07:10, Frank Burroughs)

4. Pattern Revealed / Another Hijacking (08:33–10:49)

• The detectives brief their captain, noting the sophistication of the gang and the lack of evidence.
• A new hijacking is reported—this time, the cargo is toothbrushes, not liquor, deepening the mystery.

5. The Breakthrough: Eyewitness Leads (10:49–15:43)

• At a golf practice range near the scene, Fred Garrison and his son Dave offer key observations. Dave jots the first three numbers of a suspicious sedan’s license plate: 7T7.
• The detectives request DMV records matching the partial plate, eventually narrowing it down to 23 local cars.

6. Closing In On a Suspect (15:43–17:51)

• At the address of a Walter R. Perry, detectives find a gray sedan and blacked-out goggles matching those used in the crimes.
• Perry's wife, Leona, and mother-in-law are interviewed, revealing that he’s often away at odd hours, allegedly as a jewelry salesman.

7. Family Turmoil & Motivations (19:12–22:28)

• A heated exchange between Leona and her mother (Mrs. Burt) exposes longstanding tensions and dissatisfaction, hinting at Perry's personal grievances.

8. Evidence & Arrests (22:28–23:34)

• Search of Perry’s property uncovers hijacked goods. Two accomplices are found and arrested with further stolen merchandise in their possession.

9. The Emotional Wrap-Up (23:34–27:12)

• After Perry is apprehended, an interrogation reveals his motivation: years of humiliation and pressure from his wife’s mother.

  “Nobody in the world could make me go for a hijack deal. But she could. ... I went out to get enough money to rub in her face. Enough to make her choke on me. You can hate somebody for that.” (25:07, Walter Perry)

• The confrontation between Perry, Leona, and her mother is deeply emotional, ending in mutual frustration and unresolved resentment.

10. Epilogue & Sentencing (27:12–28:01)

• The narrator states Perry was convicted of first-degree robbery and sentenced to five years to life; his accomplices received similar sentences.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Domestic Strain:

  “Kids screaming, dog tearing up the front room. No privacy. I don’t know what I’m gonna do.” (03:53, Ben Romero)

• Suspect’s Frustration:

  “You asked me a lot of questions. How about it? Can I ask you one? ... Why do you think I did it? Why I got mixed up in this?” (25:02, Walter Perry)

• Mother-in-law’s Judgment:

  “That husband of Leo’s has done something and these policemen are after him. ... I should have left and taken you with me the day it started. Walter’s a truck driver. It’s all you’ll ever be.” (20:20–20:43, Mrs. Burt)

• On Perspective:

  “I just thinking about it. ... Those in laws of mine. ... Guess I hadn't got it half bad.” (27:01, Ben Romero)

---

Host Commentary & Listener Feedback

Adam Graham's Reflections (29:08–32:19)

• Adam Graham notes the episode’s intertwining of family drama and crime, relating the domestic scenes to contemporary reality TV or talk show schadenfreude:

  "Romero's reacting to other people's family troubles the same way that people in the 90s did when they watched those sort of daytime talk shows." (29:35, Adam Graham)

• Graham sympathizes somewhat with Perry’s predicament but strongly rejects the notion that family pressure is justification for crime:

  “Lots of people have overbearing, nagging mother-in-laws ... but most of these guys don’t start hijacking liquor.” (30:10, Adam Graham)

• He draws a contrast with other detective dramas, noting that Dragnet focuses on realism and justice, not poetic retribution against difficult in-laws.

Listener Comments

• Highlights positive feedback from listeners on previous Dragnet episodes and clarity on available Philip Marlowe content.

Patreon Shout-Out

• Thanks Alan, Patreon supporter since February 2024.

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Opening/Case Setup: 01:58
• Romero’s In-Law Troubles: 03:19
• Hijacking Victim Interview: 04:12
• Eyewitness Leads: 10:49
• Goggles Found, Perry’s House: 15:43
• Family Discussion/Confrontation: 19:12–22:28
• Warehouse Evidence Found: 22:28
• Interrogation and Confession: 25:02
• Sentencing/Epilogue: 27:12
• Host Commentary Begins: 29:08

---

Final Thoughts

“The Big In-Laws” represents classic Dragnet storytelling—with a methodical investigation, human-scale motivations, and insight into the personal toll of work and family. The episode’s title refers cleverly to both the detectives’ and the criminal’s family problems, blending domestic humor and crime drama for a uniquely memorable installment.

---

For more episodes and archive access, visit The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio

Transcript

[IPVanish Advertiser]

Did you know using your browser in incognito mode doesn't actually protect your privacy? Take back your privacy with IPVanish VPN. Just one tap and all your data, passwords, communications, browsing history and more will be instantly protected. IPVanish makes you virtually invisible online. Use IPVanish on all your devices, anytime you go online, at home, and especially on public wi fi. Get IPVanish now for 70% off a yearly plan with this exclusive [e-mail] Audio.

[Romero's Mother-in-Law]

SAM.

[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 of Dragnet. But first, I want to encourage you. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software. Today's program is brought to you in part by the financial support of our listeners. And you can support the show on a one time basis by mailing a donation to Adam Graham, P.O. box 15913. That's P.O. box 15913, Boise, Idaho, 83715. But now, from August 23, 1951, here is the big in laws.

[Narrator]

The story you are about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed. To protect the innocent, you're a detective sergeant. You're assigned a robbery detail. A gang of hijackers has set up operations in your city. Truckloads of merchandise worth thousands of dollars vanish completely. The criminals know their business. Their system appears foolproof. Your job?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Stop them.

[Narrator]

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. Transcrib from official police files from beginning to end, from crime to punishment. Dragnet is the story of your police force in action.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

It was Saturday, November 8th. Was foggy in Los Angeles. We were working the day. Watch out. A robbery detail. My partner's Ben Romero. The boss is Captain Didion. My name's Friday. I was on the way back from R and I And it was 11:23am when I got to room 27. A robbery detail.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Joe.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Hi.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Where you been anyhow? I've been sitting here 20 minutes waiting for you.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Oh, I'm sorry. I've been checking a couple names through R and I. It took a little longer than I figured.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

At least you could do is leave a note in the book. I do the same for you. I've been sitting here 20 minutes.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, I told you, I'm sorry. What's the matter? You feeling well?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

No, I'm all right. I'd just like a little cooperation, Joe, that's all.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What's the matter with you?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Oh, I don't know. I guess I was mad when I woke up.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Got a crazy house. Well, what's the trouble?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Did you have an argument with your wife in laws? They're visiting again. Six of them.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Where are they sleeping?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

All over the place. Four adults, two kids and a gray fox terrier. He's not even housebroken.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

How long are you gonna stay? A couple of days, two weeks.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

I don't know how I can last it out. Joe, they're crawling all over the place. Kids screaming, dog tearing up the front room. No privacy. I don't know what I'm gonna do.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, why don't you just level with them? Ask them if they wouldn't mind staying at a motel for a couple of days.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

I suggested that to the wife this morning.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What'd she think?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

That's when the argument started. Hey, I almost forgot to tell you. That truck driver finally showed up at Frank Burrs.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Oh, yeah, it's about time. Where is he?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Took him across the hall to the mug room. Got him checking out some coming out mug books. Guess we better see how he's doing. All right.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

He sure took his time getting here, didn't he?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Yeah, didn't offer any excuses. He's no more help than he was yesterday. Surly, not very cooperative. How you doing, Mr. Burris? You're a member of my partner, Sergeant Friday.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Burris.

[Frank Burroughs]

I got a headache. This is just a waste of time, wading through all these pictures. I've been through two of these books already. I couldn't identify any of the guys.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah, we know. It's pretty tedious. We'd just like to have you check through a few more volumes, if you wouldn't mind.

[Frank Burroughs]

Look, I don't mind giving you a hand when I got time, but I got things to do today. I got something on for tonight. Have to get a haircut, my suit pressed.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, this thing's pretty important to us. Burroughs. I know we're putting you out, but we need every lead we can get. We'd certainly appreciate it if you could just give us a little more cooperation.

[Frank Burroughs]

I don't know what else I can do. I told you everything I know. Just the way it happened.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

A few more things we'd like to ask you about, sir. Some of the details you didn't make quite clear.

[Narrator]

What details?

[Frank Burroughs]

How do you mean?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Details about the hijacking. Mind going over to Genvorce.

[Frank Burroughs]

I laid it out for you the last time you talked to me. Just the way it went. It's the same as the rest.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, how do you mean the same as the rest?

[Frank Burroughs]

Well, the other hijackings are the same as those. No different.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You pretty familiar with the other jobs, are you?

[Frank Burroughs]

Oh, followed them in the paper. Read the Bulletin the cops got out on them. It's up on the dispatch board in the garage. Is that fresh water in that cooler over there?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Yeah, I think so. Help yourself.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Thanks.

[Frank Burroughs]

Gotta have a cup of aspirin for this headache. Can't take aspirin without water.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

No?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You've been driving a couple of years for Lavelle Trucking Line. Is that right, Burroughs? That's right. Yeah.

[Romero's Mother-in-Law]

What?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

If you'd mind running it through for us again, Burrows, Maybe there's a few details about the thing that you forgot to mention, huh?

[Frank Burroughs]

Well, it won't be any different than last time. I pulled out from the loading dock about 6 o' clock yesterday morning, hauling a load of Scotch whiskey over to Phoenix.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Mm.

[Frank Burroughs]

Pulled up for the red light at Alameda in Jackson. And that's when the guy pulled open the door and got in next to me. Put a gun in my ribs. Told me to look straight ahead. First thing he did was hand me that pair of goggles and told me to put them on. Same kind the welders use. Front of the lens was covered with tape. I put them on. I couldn't see a thing. Guy took over the wheel and started driving.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, did you have any idea what direction you were heading in?

[Frank Burroughs]

Not with the goggles on. I tried to follow at first, but I got all mixed up. Couldn't tell where he was driving. Made quite a few turns. He drove about 20, 25 minutes, I.

[Narrator]

Guess, before we pulled up.

[Frank Burroughs]

That's where the switching point was. Two more guys met us there. I could only tell by the voices. They pulled me out of the truck and put me in a car.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, Jenny, tell us anything at all about that transfer point? I mean, were there any sounds, anything like that that give you an idea that maybe where you were?

[Frank Burroughs]

Well, I figured it must have been someplace out in the valley.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Pretty far out.

[Frank Burroughs]

No traffic sounds at all. Just crickets, you know, things like that. He got me in that car. Drove around about an hour, I figure. Then they put me on the side of the road, told me to leave the goggles on for 10 minutes, and then they drove off.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, how about those two men at the transfer point? If you heard their voices, Again, you think you could recognize them?

[Narrator]

I don't know.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

I doubt it.

[Frank Burroughs]

They didn't say too much. Not that I heard, anyway.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

I'm just curious, Burris. How is it you thought of calling your company first instead of the police?

[Frank Burroughs]

Well, it's their cargo. A whole load of whiskey. If somebody hijacks it, I figured the company ought to be the first to know.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Like to ask you just one more question. There's no offense intended here. Yeah? You ever been arrested?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Why?

[Narrator]

What'd that have to do with.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, probably nothing at all. Have you ever been arrested?

[Frank Burroughs]

I'd like to set you straight on it right now. If you think I was working inside on this thing, you got it wrong. I didn't have anything to do with it.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Then there's nothing to worry about either.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

All right.

[Fred Garrison]

Yeah, I've been arrested.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

When was that? Burroughs?

[Frank Burroughs]

About 10 years ago. It was back east. West Virginia.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What was the charge? Hijacking. Our records showed no previous arrest for Frank Burroughs. For the next few days, he was kept under observation. When we got the kick back from Washington, it showed Burroughs had one previous arrest. The one he told us about for hijacking. We checked all his friends, relatives and associates. We found nothing suspicious. His employer said that they were aware of his police record, but they told us that Burroughs was one of the best drivers they had. There was nothing to link him with a series of hijackings which had been going on all over the city for the past month. Our crime lab checked the pair of goggles which Burroughs had been forced to wear during the hijacking. They were an ordinary industrial type, easily obtained and impossible to trace. Other than those belonging to Burroughs, there were no fingerprints on them. Late that afternoon, the missing truck and trailer was found empty in a deserted section of the valley. No latent fingerprints or other physical evidence. 9:00am the next morning, we met with Captain Didion.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Cargo's gone, huh? Not a trace of it. That's it, Skipper. High grade Scotch whiskey. 150 cases got out of Bolton. All the liquor wholesalers. Serial number's listing that ex con Burroughs. Nothing turned up on him?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

No, nothing. We double checked everything about him. He's clean.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

You didn't get a thing off that abandoned truck?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

No prints, no physical evidence. Seems like they got it down to a science.

[Fred Garrison]

Sell that to Thad Brown.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

He's getting all the kicks from the warehouse operators. 30 days and six hijackings. How about moving faster? As you know, we got 12 stakeouts running down freight load. Skipper incoming outgoing. Got three girls in the stats Office doing nothing but making runs for us. No new suspect.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

We got a meeting with an informant after lunch. He figures he may have something. There's nothing to bank on.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

How about an inside tip off on these jobs?

[Fred Garrison]

Any indication the gang's working?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Something like that?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

No, nothing definite. Skipper jobs seem to be pretty well cased though. We've checked out everybody with a record working for the trucking lines. No reason to think any of them.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Had a hand in it.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Excuse me a minute.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Gideon.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Yeah, Live Oak near Trenton Avenue. Yeah, I got it. Right, thank you. Got another truck early this morning.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Where?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

There's a location. Better move on it. Looks like they got their signals crossed.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

How do you mean?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Doesn't make sense. The cargo they hijacked, what was it?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

A load of toothbrushes. 9:23am Ben and I drove to the intersection of Live Oak Drive and Trenton Avenue in the Hollywood Hills where we located the latest driver to fall victim to the gang of hijack. His story was the same as the others. He'd stopped his truck for a red light at a deserted intersection. When a man jumped on the running board and pointed a gun at his head. The man with the gun took over the wheel and forced the driver to put on a pair of blacked out welders goggles. Then the truck was moved to a remote spot where the driver was transferred to a car and later released in a remote section of the Hollywood Hills. The hijacked truck was found empty a day later. And again there was no physical evidence, no fingerprints. The driver could add little to what we already knew. The only point that made the case any different from those that had gone before was the cargo that had been stolen. A load of toothbrushes. We began an immediate check of the neighborhood where according to the driver, he was first held up. It was a fairly remote intersection in the San Fernando Valley. After four hours of interviewing ranchers and gas station attendants, we talked to the operator of a practice driving range for golfers located just off the highway. His name was Fred Garrison.

[Fred Garrison]

Matter of fact, I did notice something out of the ordinary this morning. A little before 6am I thinking spotted this big semi turning off on that dirt road down the highway there.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Which dirt road is that, Mr. Garrison?

[Fred Garrison]

Oh, right up the highway there.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

See it?

[Fred Garrison]

That turns off by that clump of trees. Couldn't figure out why a big truck and trailer would be taking that road. Doesn't make sense.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

How do you mean, sir?

[Fred Garrison]

Well, it's a dead end. No reason why a driver turn off there by mistake. There's a big sign right there at the intersection says not a through street right there. See it? Plain as day.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Wonder if you could describe the truck for us, Mr. Garrison?

[Fred Garrison]

It's pretty good size. One of those big aluminum jobs. Black lettering on the side, I think. Yeah, it turned off the highway, went down the dirt road a little ways and then it turned off into that grove of trees and the driver cut the lights.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Did you notice any activity going on at all?

[Fred Garrison]

No, no I didn't. Oh, maybe I should have walked over and checked it. I figured it was just some truck driver pulling up to catch a few winks of sleep. My boy Dave was with me at the time, wanted to check it, but I told him to mind his own business. He says a couple of minutes after the truck pulled in, he saw a gray sedan come down the road and park next to the truck right in that same clump of trees.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well now, didn't all this look a little suspicious to you, sir?

[Fred Garrison]

Oh, I suppose so, in a way. I just don't like to meddle where it's not my business, that's all.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, did your boy Dave get a good look at this Grace at and you know that.

[Fred Garrison]

You want to come in the office to sit down?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Sure. Oh, thanks.

[Fred Garrison]

Hey, sit right there if you like.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Fine, thank you.

[Fred Garrison]

Let's see now, where were we?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

About your boy Dave. Oh yeah, he said that he saw Grace and Anne pulling next to the truck over in that clump of trees. Did he mention anything else that he noticed about the car? I mean, other than the fact that it was a gray sedan?

[Fred Garrison]

Oh yeah, I think he did say something else about it. Now let's see. Wasn't listening too close at the time. Dave's doing some errands downtown for me right now.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

He'll be phone in pretty soon though.

[Fred Garrison]

I can ask him about it then. He paid a lot more attention to the thing than I did.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, how long were the truck and trailer and that sedan parked in the grover trees? Do you remember that?

[Fred Garrison]

Well, not too long, maybe 15, 20 minutes. The car pulled out first and took off down the highway away from town that way, see? And the truck and trailer left a few minutes after.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

What do you figure they were up to? We've got an idea. What time was that again, sir? When you saw the truck turn off the highway onto the dirt road?

[Fred Garrison]

About 6am Maybe a few minutes one way or the other.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

I wonder if you'd show us the exact spot where you saw that truck park, would you?

[Fred Garrison]

Oh, sure. Here, you want to come over here with me to window.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

All right.

[Fred Garrison]

Now, you see the clump of trees there?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

A eucalyptus.

[Fred Garrison]

They boarded right on the road. Yeah, Maybe that's him now. Garrison Fairways. Oh, yeah, Dave. How'd you make out? Mm, oh, fine. No, no, no, listen, a couple policemen here now they're asking about that truck and that gray sedan you saw up on the road this morning. Wanna know what you noticed about the sedan, besides the color. Huh?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Oh, you did?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Uh huh.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Yeah.

[Fred Garrison]

Well, you better head back here. They probably want to talk to you about it.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

All right, Davy.

[Fred Garrison]

Bye.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

What do you have to say?

[Fred Garrison]

Oh, he'll be back in about 20 minutes. I figured you want to talk to him.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, how about the sedan, sir? Did he get a pretty good look at it? Did he say?

[Fred Garrison]

Yeah, I guess so. He got part of license number.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Fred Garrison's son. Dave returned and gave us all the pertinent facts about the truck and the gray sedan which he'd noticed in the neighborhood early that morning. His description of the truck and trailer, what he saw of it anyway, matched closely with that of the latest vehicle to be hijacked. He described the car as a gray sedan and he said it looked to him like it was a late model Nash. But he couldn't be sure. He said the first three units on the license plate were 7T7. The location in the grove of trees where the truck had been spotted was checked thoroughly. Outside of some indefinite tire tracks, there was no physical evidence. 4:10pm we put in a call to DMV and asked for a rundown on the three license plate numbers. The next morning, DMV returned to us a list of more than a thousand auto registrations which began with a figure 7T7. We went down the list and gradually eliminated 600 of these as not being physically close in description to the car seen by Garrison's boy, Dave. We kept checking. Almost 300 more on the list were registered in distant parts of the state. That left us with over a hundred vehicles registered in or around Los Angeles to check out. It went slow. Three weeks passed. We narrowed the list down to 23 possibles. Tuesday, December 10th. We were checking registrations with addresses in the east end of the city.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

It's a name on this one again. Perry to Walter R. Perry. Garage is straight back to drive. There's a car park in it.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah. Let's try the bell again, huh?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

What do you say?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

All right, let's give the car a look.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

People sure do get careless. Nobody home. Garage wide open. Car sitting there qualify so far you want to check the steering post there? Registration thing.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

I got it.

[Fred Garrison]

Check out.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

All right. Just a minute. What do you got there? Yeah.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Found these under the seat.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Oh, maybe we're home.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

It's a pair of goggles. Take a look.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Yeah.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Both lenses covered with tape.

[Narrator]

You're in the forgery division of a metropolitan police department. Handwriting analysis.

[Fred Garrison]

Now let's check it against the forged letter. The capitals print evenly.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

The O's and the A's are clean.

[Fred Garrison]

No, this isn't the typewriter we're looking for.

[Narrator]

Yeah.

[Fred Garrison]

Capitals print. High A's and O's are solid. P slanted.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

This is the 1.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Tuesday, December 10, 2:15pm the pair of goggles found in the automobile register. To Walter, our parents were the same brand and style as the goggles. Used to black out the truck drivers and all the previous hijackings. Ben and I searched the car, but we failed to come up with any additional physical evidence. We left the garage, checked the house again to make sure that there was nobody at home. Then we went down the street, close to the house to where we parked our car. We put in a call to R and I and requested a make on Walter R. Perry. He had no previous criminal record. A few minutes later, we spotted two women loaded with grocery bags down the street go up the stairs of the Perry house and let themselves in with a key. We went up to the front door, rang the bell, and the younger of the two women answered. Dark brown hair, blue eyes, about 5 foot 6, 28, 29 years old. We identified ourselves, and she showed us into the living room. She told us her name was Leona Perry and that Walter Perry was her husband. They'd been married 11 years. No children. We asked her where her husband was, and she said he was out of town on a business trip up north.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

North?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

To Monte Vista, California. We asked her what line of business he was in.

[Leona Perry]

Well, right now, Wallace, jewelry salesman. Works for himself. Has to do quite a bit of traveling.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Your husband's blonde, about 5, 960 pounds, is that right?

[Leona Perry]

Yes, that's right.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

How'd he go up north, ma'?

[Romero's Mother-in-Law]

Am?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Do you know?

[Leona Perry]

Well, I think he went up by train. I'm not sure.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Have any idea how we might contact your husband up north?

[Leona Perry]

No, I'm afraid I don't. He said he had a couple of business apartments in different towns in that area up there. He didn't tell me where he'd be staying. What's it about, Sergeant?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Just a routine check, Ms. Perry. Is that a photograph of your husband.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Over There on the piano.

[Romero's Mother-in-Law]

Yes.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

When's he expected back?

[Leona Perry]

You know, let's see. This is Tuesday. Should be home sometime Thursday.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

I see. A minute ago you said right now, your husband's a jewelry salesman. Is that his usual line of work?

[Leona Perry]

No, Walt is a truck driver.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

You work here in Los Angeles?

[Leona Perry]

No, he drove for a company up north in the Bay Area. Oakland, Berkeley. He had that job for 10 years, almost from the day we were married. And then last December, he had a fight with the boss and quit. We moved down here to find work, but he just couldn't seem to get placed.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

How long has he been selling jewelry, ma'? Am?

[Leona Perry]

About eight months, I'd say. He's doing very good at it. We have more now than when he was driving a truck. A lot of money in the jewelry business.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, it's just you and your husband living here, is that right?

[Leona Perry]

No, my mother lives with us, too. We just got back from doing the shopping. I guess she's busy putting the groceries away.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

I see.

[Romero's Mother-in-Law]

Mom.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Say, that's all right, ma'. Am. I think you can give us the information we need.

[Leona Perry]

Well, I'd like to know what this is about. I'd appreciate it if you'd tell me. Walter isn't in any kind of trouble, is he?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Just a routine investigation, Ms. Perry. Doesn't necessarily mean your husband's in love.

[Leona Perry]

I can tell you right now, my husband isn't involved in anything. Walter's never had trouble with the police in his life. Walter has trouble with the police? What is it Leon, if nothing? Ma, these policemen want to talk to Walter. You just want to ask him a few questions, that's all. This is my mother, Mrs. Burt. Ma, this is Mr. Friday, Mr. Romero.

[Romero's Mother-in-Law]

I told you, Leona, I felt it all day. Something's wrong. Walter's done something, hasn't he?

[Leona Perry]

Now, don't start on that again, mom, please. The officers told me they want to.

[Romero's Mother-in-Law]

Talk to Walter, that's all. What for? If he hasn't done anything? Why do they want to talk to him?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Routine duty, ma'.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Am.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

There's nothing to get excited about.

[Romero's Mother-in-Law]

I know it would happen. I felt it all the time. That funny job he has selling jewelry, going out at all hours. Couldn't fool me. I know it wasn't right. What's he done where he's relative? Because we got a right to know.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, there's nothing we can tell you definitely, ma'. Am. How about these odd working hours your husband has? What's the reason for that?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Could you tell us why?

[Leona Perry]

I don't know. Walter works for himself. He just has to make business contacts when he can't, that's all. Sometimes it's late at night, sometimes early in the morning. Why don't you stay out of it, Ma?

[Romero's Mother-in-Law]

After all, it's our business.

[Leona Perry]

Wall isn't mine.

[Romero's Mother-in-Law]

Just mark my word. Leona, find out about this. That husband of Leo's has done something and these policemen are after him. I knew it wasn't right. I felt it all along. Please stay out on his jewelry business, his big money. I should have left and taken you with me the day it started. Walter's a truck driver. It's all you'll ever be. It's where he should have stayed.

[Leona Perry]

How are you always picking on Walter. Why?

[Romero's Mother-in-Law]

Because I told you in the first place you never should have married him. Eleven years ago I told you I never should have come to stay with you.

[Leona Perry]

You couldn't go and marry one of.

[Romero's Mother-in-Law]

Those nice boys you met at school. It had to be Walter Perry. Well, maybe you'll see now. Trouble with the police. Now you'll see what kind of a man you.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Shut up, Smart.

[Leona Perry]

Sorry, Arthur.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Well, I'm afraid that isn't helping much, Ms. Burke.

[Romero's Mother-in-Law]

I suppose not. What is it that can help? You have kids, you try to tell them something, make it easy for them. Never listen.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Now, that gray sedan back in the garage, ma', am, does anyone else drive it besides Mr. Perry? Do you know?

[Romero's Mother-in-Law]

No, Leona doesn't drive. Walter's the only one who runs it.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

He drives it to all these business appointments he has at odd hour.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

That's right.

[Romero's Mother-in-Law]

Only times he doesn't take it is when he's out of town.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You ever seen this pair of goggles before, ma'?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Am?

[Leona Perry]

No, I never have.

[Romero's Mother-in-Law]

What does it mean, that tape all over the front of him.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

How about your son in law's friends? Do you ever bring any of them here to the house?

[Romero's Mother-in-Law]

Since I've been staying here the last six months, a lot of different men call him on the phone. He goes out. Doesn't bring anyone around, though. Oh, I'm just sick.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Well, can you tell us anything about this jewelry business Mr. Perry's working in?

[Romero's Mother-in-Law]

I don't even want to think about it. I raised four daughters. Nice girls, every one of them attractive. Make plans for them and you want them to be happy and marry some nice fellow, have a nice comfortable home. You try to tell them, they never listen.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

How about the car, ma'? Am?

[Romero's Mother-in-Law]

They get to be 17 and they know everything. The girls could have married wealthy if they Were smart. A lot of other girls have done it. They had nice clothes. They got through business school, good home training. All this talk about love. They're also smart. They know everything and they know nothing. This is what happens. You wake up and find out.

[Leona Perry]

Would you finish putting the groceries away, Ma? Talk to the officers.

[Romero's Mother-in-Law]

Anything you want, Leona. Didn't mean to upset you.

[Frank Burroughs]

You.

[Romero's Mother-in-Law]

Maybe things will be all right and.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Just a few more questions, Ms. Berry. That's all.

[Leona Perry]

Well, whatever it is, I know Walter hasn't done anything wrong.

[Romero's Mother-in-Law]

He wouldn't do anything wrong.

[Leona Perry]

Doesn't make sense. There's just no reason for it.

[Romero's Mother-in-Law]

I remember your father, Leona.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

16 years.

[Romero's Mother-in-Law]

We were married. One night he packed up and left me. There wasn't any reason for that either.

[Leona Perry]

Wasn't there, Mom?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

We continued questioning the wife and the mother in law of the suspect, Walter Perry. From the wife we got the name, names and addresses of four close friends of Perry's who were supposed to be associates of his in the jewelry business. In the basement and in a loft over the garage we found more than a dozen cases of high grade scotch whiskey, cases of expensive furs and other loot taken in the hijackings. Mrs. Perry said her husband told her he was storing the stuff for some friends. Was only a small portion of the take. We called the office and got out of broadcast and an APB on the suspect and arranged for an immediate stakeout on the Perry house. Then, together with Matthews and Gonzalez from robbery detail, we began checking out the four close friends of the suspect. We could locate only two of them, but those two paid off in the basements and garages of their homes. We found another portion of the loot along with evidence that showed that both men had taken active parts in the hijackings. They were booked at the main jail on suspicion of 211pc. A full week went by. The stakeout continued on the Perry house. Still no sign of him. Saturday, December 20, 4:45pm we check back in at the office.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

This thing's short Dragging out, huh?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah. It'd be nice to wrap it up before Christmas, wouldn't it? Get it out of the way. Might work into a couple of days off.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

I don't know if I'm too interested, Joe.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

The days off, I mean. We got visitors on the way again.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What do you mean? For the holidays. Who's coming?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Same old bunch. My brother in law and his wife and his kids and that little dog over there.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, they were just with you for three weeks, weren't they? What's the deal.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Oh, brother in law got home, found a notice from his company. He's been transferred out here. They're gonna stay with us all through the holidays and then they'll start house hunting. How about that?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Got a problem?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

It's got a new rug in the living room. I'll bet 20 to 1 on it.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Joe. What's that?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

A little fox terrier. Oh, hi, Skipper. Anything before we check out? Piece of news for you. Just talked to the Ventura Sheriff's Office. We owe him a favor.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What do you mean?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

They grabbed Walter Perry half an hour ago.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Monday, December 22nd. Second suspect, Walter Perry, was returned to Los Angeles. He was taken to the interrogation room where Captain Diddy and Ben and I questioned him for almost two hours. He was confronted with the evidence and testimony against him. And after another hour and a half of interrogation, he broke. He gave us a full signed statement describing his part in the campaign of hijackings. He also gave us the names of everyone in the gang, how they participated and to what extent. He said most of the property looted from the hijacked trucks was stored in a rented barn located at the north end of the city, San Fernando Valley. A detail of men checked it and confirmed the information. The suspect's wife, Leona, was notified of her husband's arrest. 1:35pm we completed our interrogation.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

That's it. Fair. Let's go. You asked me a lot of questions. How about it? Can I ask you one?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What's that?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Why do you think I did it? Why I got mixed up in this?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, according to your statement, you wanted the money admitted.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Well, you've been out to my house, haven't you?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You met my wife.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Yeah, that's right. I guess you met a mother too. Yeah. Well, then you got it. Nobody in the world could make me go for a hijack deal. But she could. I even remember the morning I'd made up my mind to do it. I was out in the kitchen. I could hear yapping at Leona in the other room. Same old roasting, lousy truck driver. That was me. 11 years the wife and I had been married. Her mother lived with us.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Nine of them.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Didn't get any better. Didn't get any worse. Just the same old yapping. Her and her four girls. Why couldn't they listen to her? They were the best girls in the world. Why couldn't they marry?

[Fred Garrison]

Money.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Why do it have to be guys like truck driver. Stupid truck driver. Same thing every day. Always the same nine years of it. So I went out to get Enough money to rub in her face. Enough to make a choke on me. You can hate somebody for that. I don't know how many years they'll give me. But I'm gonna hate her every once.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Dad.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Oh, hi, Allison.

[Fred Garrison]

Wanna remain in jail?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

This one ready to go?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Only be a minute, Rex. Right.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Thank you. All right, guys.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Sergeant? My wife's been told. She knows about it.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

She's waiting outside in the hall with her mother. You can see him on the way out. Thanks.

[Leona Perry]

Walder.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Hi, honey. I'm sorry, Walter.

[Leona Perry]

Why did you do it?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Ask him whether there. Honey, you heard as much of it as I did. Nine years worth, I guess. It finally got me sick. She wanted you to have money, so I went out to get it. You come and see me when you can.

[Leona Perry]

Leon.

[Romero's Mother-in-Law]

I didn't go into any jail to see you. I knew it all along. I knew what? Your words.

[Leona Perry]

The truth.

[Romero's Mother-in-Law]

She never should have married you.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

All right, Perry, let's go. Mr.

[Leona Perry]

Hold.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Fine. How you figure?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

I don't know. How about some coffee? Okay.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Sure is funny you see other people sweating it out. Your troubles look like nothing. I just thinking about it.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What's that?

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Those in laws of mine. What about them? Guess I hadn't got it half bad.

[Narrator]

The story you have just heard was true. Only the names were changed to protect the innocent. On March 5, trial was held in Superior Court Department 87, City and County of Los Angeles, State of California. In a moment, the results of that trial. Walter Richard Perry was tried and convicted on several counts of robbery in the first degree. He was sentenced to the state penitentiary for the term prescribed by law. First degree robbery is punishable by a term of five years to life. His accomplices received similar sentences. Ladies and gentlemen, as we know, thousands of people in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Illinois have been driven from their homes by floodwaters. Many are being sheltered and fed by the Red Cross. All Americans are urged to give through.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Their local Red Cross chapters.

[Narrator]

Your contribution of just a dollar will give you a feeling of justifiable pride. 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.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

Stay tuned for CounterSpy next on NBC.

[IPVanish Advertiser]

Did you know using your browser in incognito mode doesn't actually protect your privacy? Take back your Privacy with IPVanish VPN. Just one tap and all your data, passwords, communications, browsing history and more will be instantly protected. Ipvanish makes you virtually invisible online. Use Ipvanish on all your devices, anytime you go online at home, and especially on public Wi fi. Get IPVANISH now for 70% off a yearly plan with this exclusive [e-mail] audio.

[Adam Graham]

Welcome back. I was wondering how Romero's in laws would come back into the title. And of course it turns out it has to do with both Romero's end laws and the perpetrators. I guess in some ways Romero's reacting to other people's family troubles the same way that people in the 90s did when they watched those sort of daytime talk shows. Or today when people watch reality TV shows and they see people behaving so crazily and they're like, okay, my family is messed up, but at least we're not that bad. Now I do sympathize with the perpetrator a little bit, but I don't like the idea of, particularly in a case like this, of someone driving someone else to commit a crime. Which is essentially what he did when he was saying, nobody could make me do this but my mother in law, she made me do it. Lots of people have overbearing, nagging mother in laws and they also have wives who will put up with it and not stick up for their husbands. But most of these guys don't start hijacking liquor. There are all kinds of ways to deal with this and beginning on hijacking trucks is a choice. Now if this were Broadway's My Beat, Danny Clover probably would have arrested the mother in law on principle as an accessory. But Dragnet's based more on the real world. Alright, listener comments and feedback and we just have a couple of ones from from YouTube. On the big Light script, Wanda writes love Dragnet and Linda says more plays and any Philip Marlo. And the answer is yes. We've been through every circulating Philip Marlo episode. You can find the Philip Marlowe feed wherever you get your podcast from. And over on YouTube we have a Philip Marlowe playlist for you. Well now it is time to thank our Patreon Supporter of the day and I want to go ahead and thank Alan, patreon Supporter since February 2024, currently supporting the podcast at the Detective Sergeant level of $7.14 or more per month. Thanks so much for your support Alan. And that will do it for today if you're enjoying the podcast, but please follow us using your favorite podcast software. And if you're enjoying the podcast on YouTube, be sure to like the video, subscribe to the channel and mark the notification bell. All those great things that help YouTube channels to grow. We'll be back next Thursday with another episode of Dragnet. Join us starting next Tuesday for the big story. But join us back here tomorrow for yours truly, Johnny Dollar. Where?

[Frank Burroughs]

Well, tell me this. Any of your clients, policyholders, have any kind of trouble, accidents, anything like that over at Lake Mojave Resort lately? Ah, so that's what's eaten yet. Well, Johnny, that claim was legitimate. It's in the home office for settlement. The company will pay it and that'll be that. What claim? So just you stop worrying about it and forget. What claim, Jake? No, sir. Johnny, there's not a single solid thing for you to investigate out here. So just you.

[Sergeant Ben Romero]

You forget it.

[Frank Burroughs]

You know something, Jake? You've just convinced me there is something to investigate. So I'm grabbing the first plane I can. Well, Johnny, I'd love to see you, but I swear, what's more, I'm charging my expense account to your company.

[Adam Graham]

I hope you'll be with us then. In the meantime, send your comments to box Thirteenreatetectives.net Follow us on Twitter at radiodetectives and check us out on Instagram. Instagram.com from Boise, Idaho, this is your host, Adam Graham, signing off.

[IPVanish Advertiser]

Did you know using your browser in incognito mode doesn't actually protect your privacy? Take back your privacy with IPVanish VPN. Just one tap and all your data, passwords, communications, browsing history and more will be instantly protected. IPVanish makes you virtually invisible online. Use IPVanish on all your devices, anytime you go online, at home, and especially on public wi fi. Get ipvanish now for for 70% off a yearly plan with this exclusive offer at ipvanish. Com Audio.