Dragnet: The Big Set-Up (EP4809)

Summary

---

The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio

Episode: Dragnet: The Big Set-Up (EP4809)
Date: September 25, 2025
Host: Adam Graham
Featured Drama: Dragnet, “The Big Set-Up” (Originally aired July 12, 1951)

---

Episode Overview

This episode of "Dragnet," titled "The Big Set-Up," explores the systematic investigation and eventual takedown of a clever burglary ring terrorizing Los Angeles’ wealthy residents. Host Adam Graham presents the original radio play, in which Detectives Joe Friday and Ben Romero pursue a gang responsible for high-value burglaries of furs and jewels. The episode highlights the classic methodical approach of Dragnet: suspicion, stakeouts, careful deduction, and ultimately, a surprising twist concerning the real criminal mastermind.

---

Key Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown

1. Crime Background & Case Setup

• Burglary Pattern: A series of high-end home burglaries have netted $100,000 in furs and jewels over three months.
• Modus Operandi: The gang targets homes when the residents are away, frequently tying up and locking staff in closets (04:33–05:55).
  • Quote:
    • Detective Joe Friday: “A gang of clever thieves... There’s no clue to their identity. Your job: Get them.” (03:12)
• Pressure on Police: Intense scrutiny from victims, insurance companies, and the press (05:55–06:26).

2. Investigative Insights

• The detectives notice victim patterns: all were recently seen publicly wearing their valuables, but left them at home on the night of the burglaries (07:05–09:41).
  • Quote:
    • Detective Joe Friday: “We all pretty much agree there must be a finger man working with the gang–somebody who knows the victims aren’t home. Somebody who also knows they’re not wearing the furs or jewels that night.” (08:03)
• Theory Developed: The gang’s “finger man” is likely spotting wealthy guests at nightclubs, then tipping off the burglars when their valuables are left at home.
• Stakeouts: Police place six likely nightspots under surveillance, but progress is slow (09:41-10:46).

3. Breakthrough: Eyewitness Description

• A new burglary at a dentist’s home yields a critical lead when the maid, Ms. Ilsa Bergstrom, glimpses a masked burglar’s face and scar (10:46–13:41).
  • Quote:
    • Ms. Bergstrom: “One of the men, I knocked his hat off... I pulled the thing on his face, the mask almost. Blond hair, not so much on top… there was a scar going over that way.” (12:02)
• Delivers a vital suspect description, enabling the detectives to search police records for ex-cons matching the profile.

4. Tracing Suspects

• Detectives check out Russell Snow, who matches the description, but find he’s gone; his brother mentions a friend, Matt Garson (14:38–17:25).
• Suspect Connections: Garson recently worked at the Park Tivoli nightclub—one of the staked-out locations—positioned ideally to “finger” wealthy prospects (18:15–18:36).

5. Nailing the “Finger Man” (and Woman)

• Garson’s girlfriend, Virginia Ramsey, works the club’s hat check stand. A search of her apartment yields stolen property (19:34–20:59).
• Arrest & Interrogation: Virginia is brought in for questioning, denying everything at first (21:05–23:32), but under pressure, finally confesses.
  • Quote:
    • Virginia Ramsey (breaks down): “I’ll tell you about it. I know Matt Garson. He’s one of the gang… When I was checking coats and things at the club, I was supposed to watch for customers with money, expensive furs and jewels… then I’d tell Matt, he’d tell the others.” (23:32–23:57)

6. The Set-Up and Sting Operation

• Virginia reveals details of the gang’s targeting method and their next mark (24:00–24:44).
• Police arrange a trap, foiling the next burglary in progress and arresting the gang, including Russell Snow, Matt Garson, and Howard Farris (24:48–25:50).

7. Surprise Twist: The Mastermind

• Under interrogation, Garson and the others claim Virginia Ramsey is the true ringleader—a 23-year-old woman orchestrating all planning and distribution (26:07–26:24).
  • Quote:
    • Matt Garson: “There’s only one boss in this operation… Yeah, Virginia Ramsey.” (26:24)
• Recovery of nearly all stolen loot from Virginia’s bank safety deposit box and rented garage (27:20–27:33).
  • Quote:
    • Virginia Ramsey, when confronted: “I didn’t think you’d find out. I didn’t think you’d ever find out… Pretty smart setup though, don’t you think, Sergeant?” (27:20–28:09)
    • Detective Joe Friday: “You’re in jail, aren’t you?” (28:09)

8. Resolution & Reflection

• Trial Outcome: Virginia and the male gang members are convicted and sent to prison (28:17).
• Notable Closing Line:
  • Adam Graham (host): “That one error led to the police getting their big lead and ultimately prison time for all involved.” (30:52)

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Even burglars should be gentlemen, a little bit." – Ms. Bergstrom’s wry, foreigner’s comment contrasts American crooks with European ones (13:32).
• The twist: The seemingly "finger man" is actually a young woman, Virginia Ramsey, manipulating seasoned thieves for her own gain (26:24–28:09).
• Friday’s laconic putdown: “You’re in jail, aren’t you?” when Ramsey boasts about her cleverness (28:09).

---

Important Timestamps

• 04:33–05:55: Discovery and police frustration at lack of leads.
• 07:05–09:41: Detectives deduce the gang’s pattern; suspicion of a finger man.
• 10:46–13:41: Maid’s eyewitness testimony breaks the case open.
• 18:15–18:36: Link to nightclub and “finger man” theorized.
• 19:34–23:32: Search, arrest, and interrogation of Virginia Ramsey.
• 23:32–24:44: Ramsey reveals methodology and next target.
• 24:48–25:50: Sting operation, arrest of burglars.
• 26:07–28:09: Unexpected revelation: Ramsey the true ringleader; final confrontation.
• 28:17: Trial and sentencing summary.

---

Host Commentary (Adam Graham) Highlights

• Comment on Burglar Etiquette: Adam riffs humorously on Ms. Bergstrom’s remark about “gentlemen burglars” (30:52–31:20), reflecting that burglars avoid confrontations to minimize witnesses, not out of honor.
• Listener Feedback: Reads praise for the humor and delivery of Dragnet’s cast—especially Ben Romero’s characterization and quips (31:20–33:45).
• Reflection on Cast Dynamics: Discusses actor Martin Yarborough’s understated comic skills and partnership dynamic (32:52–33:45).

---

Episode Takeaways

• Dragnet exemplifies procedure and logic: attention to the smallest slip-up can break a case wide open.
• Even those seemingly on the periphery—in this case, a hat check girl—can be central to a major criminal operation.
• The episode ends with a reflection on the perils of “smart” criminality: “You’re in jail, aren’t you?”

---

For classic radio detective fans, this is a quintessential Dragnet: methodical, taut, and capped off with a surprising, character-driven twist.

Transcript

[Commercial Narrator]

Imagine if today was the day your idea changed someone's life. Imagine if you could help someone pay for college, help your community build a new playground, or help a child make it to that dream competition with GoFundMe. It's all possible. GoFundMe is the world's number one fundraising platform, trusted by over 190 million people every week. Ordinary people meet their goals and do extraordinary things. Your ideas matter. GoFundMe isn't just for emergencies. Want to raise money for your kid's soccer team? Or raise funds for a small business? A creative project or event? GoFundMe helps you turn ideas into reality and help adds up. Fundraisers you start for someone else raise up to five times more. So think right now. Who could use your help? Change rarely comes from waiting. It comes from someone deciding, today I'll start. Don't wait for someone else to bring change today. Start your fundraiser in just [e-mail] that's gofundme.com to start your fundraiser. Gofundme.com this is a commercial message brought to you by GoFundMe. This is the story of the one as head of maintenance at a concert hall, he knows the show must always go on. That's why he works behind the scenes, ensuring every light is working, the H Vac is humming, and his facility shines with Grainger's supplies and solutions for every challenge he faces. Plus 24. 7 customer support. His venue never misses a beat. Call quickgranger.com or just stop by Granger for the ones who get it done.

[Adam Graham]

Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This is your host, Adam Graham. If you have a comment, email it to me. Box Thirteenreatetectives.net Follow us on Twitter at radiodetectives and check us out on Instagram instagram.com great detectives 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. You can support the show on a one time basis by mailing a donation to Adam Graham, P.O. box 15913, Boise, ID 83715 and become one of our ongoing Patreon supporters for as little as $2 per month by going to patreon.greatdetectives.net well now from July 12, 1951, here is the big setup.

[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 burglary detail. A gang of clever thieves are at work in your city. In three months, they've looted fashionable homes of a hundred thousand dollars in furs and jewels. There's no clue to their identity. Your job. Get them, 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.

[Detective Joe Friday]

It was Wednesday, January 10th. It was cold 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. It was 11:15am when we got back to the city hall. Captain Wisdom's office.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Hi, Skipper. Hi. How'd you make out? Not too good. Same old story. Anybody in the house when the thieves broke in?

[Detective Joe Friday]

Yeah, the children's nurse was there. She said the burglary took place about midnight. She was asleep in bed at the time. The nurse said she woke up when she heard the thieves forcing their way in through a side door. She jumped out of bed, ran for the telephone in the hallway and they grabbed her before she could reach it.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Do her any harm?

[Detective Joe Friday]

Well, a little, yeah. They tied her up, locked her in a closet.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Same M.O. as the other job, Skipper. Three men. Each of them wore gloves and a mask. They took all their furs and jewelry. They could find nothing else. Nurse give you the same general description on the three of them? Yeah, it's not gonna help much. Said two of the men were tall, medium bill and one was short, heavy bill. She was so rattled she couldn't even remember the clothes I had on. 12 jobs for the same gang in three months. We don't even have a good description of them. How slow can we move? Doing everything we can, Skipper. Excuse me. Burglary. Wisdom. Uh huh. Not until two o'? Clock. No, that's all right. Two o' clock sharp. Right. Bye. Just had an appointment canceled out. How about a cup of coffee downstairs? Yeah. I didn't even have a chance for breakfast this morning.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Fine with me.

[Detective Ben Romero]

You grab my hat, Willie. Yeah, I'll get it.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Here you go.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Thanks. Guess you talked to the owners of the house, huh? The place was broken into last night.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Yeah, we did. Mr. And Ms. Peterson, they got home a couple hours after the burglary. Took a quick inventory.

[Detective Ben Romero]

What did they find?

[Detective Joe Friday]

Missing furs and jewels. Same as the other jobs. Almost $12,000 worth. It's the biggest haul yet.

[Detective Ben Romero]

I don't have to spell it out for you. We need a break on this thing. We need a bag. More pressure from the front office, huh? Coming from all sides. The victims are insurance companies, newspapers. They got a right to cry. Those thieves have been grabbing furs and jewels for three months. We're doing everything about it we can do, Skipper. Planting stakeouts, working our informants, running down every lead we can get our hands on. Covered every angle I can think of. They don't worry about the angles we cover. They want results. They want their property back. Go ahead, Skipper. Now, how about the stuff they took on the job last night? You get it on the stolen property list?

[Detective Joe Friday]

Yeah, it's all listed. That's one thing that really gets me. What are the thieves doing with all that stuff, the furs and the jewelry? We've had every pawn shop in the city on the alert since they started working. Checked on every possible outlet we know of. Any place they could use to dump the stuff. They haven't turned up a trace of it.

[Detective Ben Romero]

No results from those APBs you got out?

[Detective Joe Friday]

Well, yeah, a few, but none of them panned out.

[Detective Ben Romero]

How about finding cafeteria here? They got pretty good coffee.

[Detective Joe Friday]

That's a good idea.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Why don't you two grab a table? I'll get the coffee. Right. Ben? Oh, hold the cream on mine, will you? Right, Skipper.

[Detective Joe Friday]

How's this? This all right?

[Detective Ben Romero]

Yeah, it's fine. Three chairs.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Yeah. Okay.

[Detective Ben Romero]

How about it Friday? You or Ben got any ideas at all?

[Detective Joe Friday]

Well, there's one thing we wanted to talk over with you. We were kicking the idea around on the way back into the office. Would you like a smoke?

[Detective Ben Romero]

Oh, thanks. There you go.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Last night we were comparing the different stories we got from the burglary victims.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Thank you.

[Detective Joe Friday]

You got a light?

[Detective Ben Romero]

All right. Yeah, it's all right. Thanks. Go ahead.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Well, that's one thing that all their stories seem to have in common. Now, that's counting all 12 victims.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Yeah, what's that?

[Detective Joe Friday]

Let's see. I got a piece of paper here. I got it all figured out. Yeah, we know all the victims are fairly wealthy people. They go out quite a bit. Parties, nightclubs, things like that.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Yeah, none of them were at home at the time the burglaries were pulled.

[Detective Joe Friday]

That's right. Yeah.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Here you go. There's your skipper. No cream, Joe.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Thank you very much. I was just telling the captain about that idea we were talking about on the way back in.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Yeah? Oh, yeah. All right. So none of the victims Were home at the time of the burglary. Where does it go from there?

[Detective Joe Friday]

Well, for one thing, we all pretty much agree that there must be a finger man working with the gang, don't we? Somebody who knows the victims aren't home. Somebody who also knows the victims aren't wearing the furs or jewels on that particular night. Is that right?

[Detective Ben Romero]

That's right. We've been going on that assumption. The question is, who's the finger man?

[Detective Joe Friday]

Well, that's what I'm trying to get at here. Ben and I compared the victims stories. We found out that in every case, each of the victims had been out in some public place from three to five days before the night of the burglary. Now, at that time, every one of them wore furs and expensive jewelry.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Yeah. Why don't you read off some of those examples we got there, Jill? Okay.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Well, here's the first one. Mr. And Mrs. Charles King. Now, on December 10th, they went to a nightclub out in Hollywood. Mrs. King wore a fur coat and quite a bit of jewelry. On December 14, they went out to a theater. They didn't dress up at all. They left the furs and jewels at home. That's the night that their house was burglarized.

[Detective Ben Romero]

And this same pattern shows up in every one of the victim stories?

[Detective Joe Friday]

No, no, it's not quite that close. But the same elements seem to be there.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Here's another one, skipper.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Let's see.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Mr. And Mrs. Lyons, November 20th, they went to a big party at a restaurant out on Sunset. Woman wore jewelry, expensive fur wrap. A week later, they went to a party at a friend's house. Mrs. Lyons left her furs and jewelry at home the same night thieves broke in. That's a pretty good angle. How do you tie up all the loose ends?

[Detective Joe Friday]

Well, I. See a paper again, Ben. We got it halfway figured right here. Just before each of the victims was taken, they appeared in the public place wearing the furs and jewelry. We've got a list of all the places. Nightclubs, restaurants. There's about six of them here.

[Detective Ben Romero]

So the finger man for the gang must be watching these six places. He spots the people with expensive furs and jewelry and tips off the gang. They watch the house. Next time, the people go out and the thieves see the woman isn't wearing her furs and things and they move in.

[Detective Joe Friday]

It's not a sure thing. We're just guessing. You understand? What do you think?

[Detective Ben Romero]

Sounds like a fair guess. Let's move on it. We'll have to cover each of those nightclubs and the restaurants. It's gonna take more men, more time. Could be nothing but a blind alley. We got the men, we got the time. Let's try it.

[Detective Joe Friday]

10Pm Wednesday, January 10th. Our idea for stopping the burglary gang by reaching their spotter or finger man was put into operation. The half dozen nightclubs and restaurants where we thought the spotter might be checking off richly dressed couples as future burglary victims were placed under strict surveillance. Managers and employees of each of the places were questioned. It went slow. The first week got us four leads to check out. They led nowhere. Any and all suspicious looking persons loitering in or near the clubs and restaurants that we had staked out were questioned and checked out thoroughly. Another week passed. No results. In the meantime, on January 23, the burglary gang hit again. This time at a dentist's home in the Hollywood Hills. The maid, a Ms. Ilsa Bergstrom, was the only one present at the time of the burglary. Ben and I drove out to interview her.

[Ms. Ilsa Bergstrom]

It was soon before midnight. The Mr. And Mrs. Was gone out. They were sitting with the television.

[Detective Ben Romero]

The three men broke in the side door. Is that right, Ms. Bergster?

[Ms. Ilsa Bergstrom]

Yeah, the side door. I think so. Ever sitting with the television. Boxing. I hear this sound. I turn around and the three men, they're right there in the room with me. I thought I could scream, but I couldn't.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Do you remember what the men looked like, Ms. Bergstrom? How they were dressed?

[Ms. Ilsa Bergstrom]

I don't know. I was so much being frightened. One of them had a jacket on, I think. Dark jacket. The others, I don't know anything else.

[Detective Joe Friday]

About them that you noticed.

[Ms. Ilsa Bergstrom]

They had masks all over their faces. I couldn't see. I jumped up. I tried to scream but I was so much frightened.

[Detective Ben Romero]

What did they do then, Miss?

[Ms. Ilsa Bergstrom]

Well, they put a cloth all around my mouth so I couldn't make noise. Then they tied my hands and my feet and they put me in the closet out there. Just about the whole way I was kicking and hitting at them.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Had you ever seen any of the men before, Ms. Burton?

[Ms. Ilsa Bergstrom]

No, never before.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Do you think you'd know any of the men if you saw them again?

[Ms. Ilsa Bergstrom]

I shouldn't be sure. One of them maybe. I might know him.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Well, how do you mean? Did you get a look at his face?

[Ms. Ilsa Bergstrom]

Well, it was very quick. When they was putting me in the closet, I was hitting and kicking at them. One of the men, I knocked his hat off. It fell on the floor. I pulled the thing on his face, the mask almost. It came Off?

[Detective Ben Romero]

Well, from what you could see. What did the man look like?

[Ms. Ilsa Bergstrom]

Blond hair. I can remember. It's not so much on top here. It's only on the side here. And there was right there by the forehead here. A scar going over that way?

[Detective Joe Friday]

Yeah. Was he a big man, do you know? As big as the unknown?

[Ms. Ilsa Bergstrom]

No, no, he was a smaller man. He was bigger this way, you know, fatter.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Yeah.

[Ms. Ilsa Bergstrom]

He was so mad when I knocked his head off, I thought maybe he'd kill me. They only put me in the closet, you know, and then they closed the door. I could hear them upstairs going through the Mr. And Mrs. Room.

[Detective Ben Romero]

You're pretty sure of the description you've given us, Ms. Bersho?

[Ms. Ilsa Bergstrom]

Yeah. The scar, the blonde hair. Not so much on top. I remember that. It was. Well, I was so much frightened, I thought they'd kill me.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Now, after they locked you in the closet, they didn't come back? That's the last you saw them?

[Ms. Ilsa Bergstrom]

Yeah, they didn't come back to me. I could hear them moving around upstairs. And then I could hear them leave after a while, like all night before the Mr. And Mrs. Came home and found me. Was so much frightened. This thing wouldn't happen in Sweden. That's where I come from. Sweden?

[Detective Ben Romero]

Yes, ma'. Am. You sure there's nothing else about these men that you've noticed? Something we ought to know about?

[Ms. Ilsa Bergstrom]

No. Everything I saw. Yes? About Hatton. I told you the way it was. This never would have happened in Sweden. Not like this. These robbers, like this.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Burglars, man.

[Ms. Ilsa Bergstrom]

Yeah, these burglars. I thought I'd be dead. Never would happen in Sweden like this.

[Detective Ben Romero]

You mean you don't have burglars in Sweden?

[Ms. Ilsa Bergstrom]

Oh, yeah, yeah, we have burglars.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Well, then just how do you mean.

[Ms. Ilsa Bergstrom]

That we have burglars. But they don't break in the house when somebody's there. They're a little bit gentlemen.

[Detective Ben Romero]

That so?

[Ms. Ilsa Bergstrom]

Yeah. They wait till everybody's gone from the house, then they break it. Even burglars should be gentleman a little bit.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Before we left the house, we checked with the owners. Took their crime report and a list of their stolen property. Property? Some $6,000 in jewelry and fur coats. The maid's description of one of the three men in the gang wasn't complete. But it was the best that we'd had on him in three months. Frank Cunningham and the Eye Bureau had the description of the scar on the suspect's forehead. Checked through the oddity file. Meantime, Ben and I paired up the additional facts about the Suspect? The scar, the color and condition of his hair, along with his general description, his approximate weight and height. We had the stats office make a run for us and all ex cons with burglary records who fitted the overall description. They came up with a list of 10 names, and we started checking them out. One of the first listed was a Russell Snow. We checked his last known address, but he'd moved. His mail was being forwarded in care of his brother, George Snow, who managed the Neptune Plunge, a public indoor swimming pool in the East Hollywood neighborhood. We drove out to interview the brother.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Pretty good size for an indoor pool, huh? Yeah, it is.

[Detective Joe Friday]

It's a nice layout they got.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Must be the office. Straight ahead there. Hey, Joe. Joe, look.

[Detective Joe Friday]

What's that?

[Detective Ben Romero]

That girl over there. Look at that bathing suit she's got on.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Yeah, they keep getting smaller, don't they?

[Detective Ben Romero]

Makes you embarrassed just to look at them. Yeah, maybe I'm just getting old. Yes, sir, we're looking for George Snow. Yeah, I'm him. Police officers. Mr. Snow. Like to talk to you a few minutes, if we could. Oh, yeah.

[Narrator]

Hey, let me grab a towel over here. Get dried off, though.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Sure. Come on over.

[Narrator]

Pull up one of these deck chairs here.

[Detective Ben Romero]

All right.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Thank you very much.

[Narrator]

Well, what is it, officers? What can I do for you?

[Detective Joe Friday]

You have a brother, isn't that right, sir? A Russell Snow.

[Narrator]

Yeah, that's right. Russ is my brother.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Anything wrong?

[Detective Joe Friday]

We'd like to locate him if we could. Do you know where we can find him?

[Detective Ben Romero]

No.

[Narrator]

Don't think I can. Last I heard from Russ was about six months ago. Said he was gonna take a job in Minneapolis. Not in trouble again, is he?

[Detective Ben Romero]

Not that we know of. We'd like to locate him, that's all.

[Narrator]

I don't think I can help you much. Russ isn't much of a letter writer. Only time I hear from him is when he's in town.

[Detective Joe Friday]

We've checked at the last place your brother was staying. They told us he left word to forward all his mail here to you.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Is that right?

[Narrator]

Yeah, that's right. Russ asked me to take care of it. No letters have come through so far, though.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Mm.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Were you to hang onto his mail or send it on to him in Minneapolis?

[Narrator]

No, I was gonna hang on to him. Russ said he'd pick up his mail next time he was through. As I say, that was six months ago. I haven't seen or heard from him since then.

[Detective Ben Romero]

You wouldn't know if he was actually in Minneapolis or not?

[Narrator]

Well, no, I wouldn't. Guess you Know my brother Russell had a police record?

[Detective Joe Friday]

Yeah, sir, we do.

[Narrator]

He had that trouble a couple of.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Years ago, that burglary rep.

[Narrator]

Think Russ learned his lesson.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Are you your brother's only living relative? I mean, is there anyone else in town who might have heard from him? I don't know, Officer.

[Narrator]

Excuse me just a minute.

[Detective Ben Romero]

All right, kids, no running around the side of the pool, you hear?

[Narrator]

You slip and break your neck.

[Detective Ben Romero]

No more running.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Sorry.

[Narrator]

You gotta watch him like to Hawk.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Narrator]

Sir, like I was saying, I can't think of anybody who might've heard from Russ. I'm his only relation. But he does have a few friends around town. I mean, legitimate fellows, you know?

[Detective Ben Romero]

Yeah.

[Narrator]

They come around once in a while, drop in and say hello.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Have any of them heard from your brother?

[Narrator]

He might have, but I didn't ask him. There's old Matt Garson. He's a good friend of my brother's. He was in the other day, but he didn't say anything about hearing from Russ. Might be that he has. Maybe he didn't think to mention it.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Where does this Matt Garson stay, do you know?

[Narrator]

I really couldn't tell you, Officer. Matt's a real character. Kind of a floater. Doesn't stay with one job more than two months. Like last week when he was in here.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Yes, sir.

[Narrator]

He's a real pitchman. Gave me a big sales talk big. Biggest bargain on earth. Said he'd sell me a couple of them real cheap. I didn't have any use for him.

[Detective Joe Friday]

What's that, sir?

[Narrator]

For a coach.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Before we left, George Snow gave us a complete description of Matt Garson together with the names of five of Garson's acquaintances who might know of his whereabouts. When Ben and I got back to the City hall, we checked Garson's name and description through R and I. He had a record of two fairly recent arrests, but no convictions. Both arrests were for suspicion of burglary. We checked on Garson's last known residence. He'd moved, no forwarding address. His last place of employment was listed as the Park Tivoli nightclub out on Wilshire Boulevard. The Park Tivoli was one of the six places that we'd staked out as a possible working ground for the burglary gang's finger man. A place where he could spot expensively dressed persons, check on their home addresses and line them up as future burglary victims. Ben put in a call to the manager of the Park Tivoli to check on Garson's employment.

[Detective Ben Romero]

What was that, sir? Last July. I see. Well, yes, sir. We'll probably be out tonight. Right. Thank you. Bye.

[Detective Joe Friday]

What'd you get?

[Detective Ben Romero]

Garson worked out there. All right. Parking lot attendant. He quit last July. He's the guy checking off the customers first and jewels. He's in a perfect spot. Yeah. Manager told me that Garson has a girlfriend. She still works at the club. Might be the answer, Joe.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Well, how do you figure?

[Detective Ben Romero]

She runs a hat check stand.

[Narrator]

You are in the communications division of a metropolitan police department. The teletype, room.

[Detective Ben Romero]

43, Los 52951, 1203pm APB, WMA. 155 foot 6, dark hair, dark eyes, wearing gray suit, no hat. Suspect is wearing glasses, heavy build, 22 years. Suspect is armed with blue steel revolver. Any information forward?

[Narrator]

You have just heard a teletype description of a suspect. This information will apply to many, but careful screening will eliminate all but one.

[Detective Joe Friday]

One of the biggest problems that faces a police officer working the burglary detail is not only apprehending the thief, but but also recovering the stolen property. Dozens of criminals of this type will spend 5, 10, or even 15 years in prison if they know that on their release they will have a stake of thousands of dollars in stolen property which they've hidden somewhere to start over again with. Thursday, January 26, 5:00pm we got out a broadcast and an APB on the burglary suspect, Matt Garson. Then we began checking back on his girlfriend, Virginia Ramsay, who worked as a hat check girl at the Park Tivoli nightclub on Wilshire Boulevard was one of the six probable places where we thought that the finger man for the burglary gang was lining up potential victims. Despite the fact that she often associated with known criminal suspects, the Ramsey girl had no previous criminal record herself. That night, after she reported in for work at the club, Ben and I checked her apartment. In one of the closets we found three examples. Expensive fur coats. They were all identified as property taken in previous burglaries by the gang. In a strong box in the desk, we found a half a dozen pieces of expensive jewelry also identified on the stolen property list. Ben and I got in the car and drove to the Park Tivoli nightclub.

[Virginia Ramsey]

Your hat, sir. Check your hat.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Your name Virginia Ramsey?

[Virginia Ramsey]

Yes, that's right.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Police officers. Ms. Ramsey. Like to talk to you downtown.

[Virginia Ramsey]

Beg your pardon?

[Detective Joe Friday]

I say we're police officers. Here's our identification. Like to talk to you downtown.

[Virginia Ramsey]

What's it all about? I haven't done anything.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Then there's no reason to worry. We'd Just like to ask you a few questions, that's all.

[Virginia Ramsey]

What about?

[Detective Ben Romero]

A man by the name of Matt Garson understands. You know him quite well.

[Virginia Ramsey]

No, I don't know him. I don't even know what you're talking about.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Want to get your coat, Ms. Ramsay? We'll talk it over downtown, huh?

[Virginia Ramsey]

I'm working now. Listen, I won't be off till 2 o'. Clock. I can't just walk off the job.

[Detective Joe Friday]

We just talk to the manager. He's gonna have one of the other girls take your place. Do you want to get your coat, please?

[Virginia Ramsey]

All right. You sure you checked with the manager? I don't want to lose my job, leaving like this.

[Detective Ben Romero]

We talk to him. It's all right.

[Detective Joe Friday]

This way, please. Out the side door.

[Virginia Ramsey]

Like to know what this whole thing's all about? I think I have a right to know. Pulling me off a job like this.

[Detective Joe Friday]

We told you, Ms. Ramsey. It's about a friend of yours. Matt Garson. He used to work here at the club, didn't he?

[Virginia Ramsey]

I wouldn't know. A lot of people work here. I don't know them all. Why should you want him anyway?

[Detective Ben Romero]

Do you know him?

[Virginia Ramsey]

I think I might, yes. Not sure. Why do you want him?

[Detective Joe Friday]

For interrogation? Just like to ask him a few questions.

[Virginia Ramsey]

Why?

[Detective Joe Friday]

You ready to admit that you know Garson?

[Virginia Ramsey]

Think I might. Yeah, I know him.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Want to get in, Ms. Ramsey?

[Virginia Ramsey]

Still don't know what it's all about. Why do you want Matt Garson?

[Detective Joe Friday]

Same reason we want you. Suspicion of burglary.

[Virginia Ramsey]

You don't know what you're talking about. You can't prove anything against me.

[Detective Joe Friday]

We already have, Miss.

[Virginia Ramsey]

Huh?

[Detective Joe Friday]

We found three fur coats in your apartment. There was some jewelry there, too.

[Virginia Ramsey]

Those things are mine. Every one of them. They're all mine.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Come on, you're wasting time. They're stolen property, you know that.

[Detective Ben Romero]

How about it, Miss? You want to tell us about Matt Garson? Where is he?

[Virginia Ramsey]

I told you. Told you the first time, I don't know him.

[Detective Joe Friday]

10:00Pm we drove the suspect, Virginia Ramsey, downtown to the City hall and took her to the interrogation room. We questioned her continuously until well past midnight. She refused to admit anything. We gave her time to rest a little and set out for some food. Then we resumed the interrogations. 2:00am The Ramsey girl still refused to admit any connection with Matt Garson, his friend Russell Snow or any members of the burglary gang. We stayed with it. By 4am we'd halfway convinced her that protecting the members of the gang wasn't the answer. That the best thing for her to do would be to cooperate. 5:30am I have a cigarette.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Yeah. Here you are.

[Virginia Ramsey]

I'll tell you about it. I know Matt Garson. He's one of the gang.

[Detective Joe Friday]

You know where he is?

[Ms. Ilsa Bergstrom]

No.

[Virginia Ramsey]

He got me into it. He made me do it. There wasn't anything else I could do.

[Detective Joe Friday]

What did he make you do?

[Virginia Ramsey]

Well, when I was checking coats and things at the club, I was supposed to watch for customers with money, expensive furs and jewels. I found out who they were and then I'd tell Matt, he'd tell the others.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Who are the others?

[Virginia Ramsey]

One of them's Johnny Lang. There are a couple of others, but I don't know their names. Believe me, Sergeant, Matt made me do it. He got me into it before I knew what it was all about. When I found out, he threatened to frame me if I didn't go along with him.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Do you know where any of these men live? Where they hang out?

[Virginia Ramsey]

No. None of them. Not even Matt. Ever since he moved, he wouldn't give me his new address.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Do you think Garson will try to contact you at your apartment in the next few days, maybe?

[Virginia Ramsey]

No, I don't think so. Not until after the next job. They're waiting on it now. They've been watching the house.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Which house is in place?

[Virginia Ramsey]

Out in West Hollywood. Wealthy people. They were in the club about a week ago.

[Detective Joe Friday]

And the gang's waiting for them to go out some night and leave their valuables at home.

[Ms. Ilsa Bergstrom]

Is that it?

[Virginia Ramsey]

Yeah, that's right. Matt says it's an easy house to break into. He thinks it ought to be a cinch.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Matt ought to know better, huh? It's easy ones you trip over. Before we booked her in on suspicion, suspicion of burglary. Virginia Ramsey gave us the name and address of the people in West Hollywood who were supposedly the next victims on the burglary gang's list. Later in the morning, we drove out to see the people. A Mr. And Mrs. Thomas Thornson told them the story and laid out our plans, which they agreed to. That night, the Thornsons left their home a few minutes before 9. They were simply dressed. No furs, no jewels. At 9:35, three men men scaled a fence at the rear of the Thornson's home and broke in through a side door. Right behind them was a detail of a half a dozen officers who moved in and made the arrest. The three suspects were taken downtown, where they were identified as Russell Snow, Matt Garson and Howard Farris. We searched their apartments, their cars and garages There was no trace of the stolen property. Each of the men were brought to the interrogation room separately for questioning. Matt Garson was the first. He denied any knowledge of where the loot was hidden. That's the truth. I don't know where the stuff is.

[Detective Ben Romero]

I work for the Outfit, that's all. You've been working for three months without a payoff. Is that what you're trying to tell her?

[Narrator]

Well, we haven't been turning over everything we got.

[Detective Ben Romero]

We've been holding out half the stuff.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Selling it on the side.

[Detective Ben Romero]

I just work for the Outfit, that's all. That's not the way we get it, Garson. You're supposed to be the big man. You masterminded the deal. Me?

[Narrator]

Who told you that?

[Detective Joe Friday]

Your girlfriend, Virginia Ramsey. We picked her up yesterday. She told us everything.

[Detective Ben Romero]

What'd she tell you?

[Detective Joe Friday]

You're the big man. It was your idea. You ran the works. What about it, Gordon?

[Detective Ben Romero]

Big joke, Sergeant, on both of us. What do you mean? You can ask the other boys. They'll tell you the same thing. We can prove it, too.

[Detective Joe Friday]

There's only one boss in this operation. Yeah, Virginia Ramsey. For a 23 year old girl, it seemed like a new record of some kind. If it was true. We checked the other suspect's record. Russell Snow and Howard Farris. They told us substantially the same story. The Ramsey girl had formulated all the plans and directed the entire operation of the gang since its inception. They insisted that they had no idea where the stolen property was hidden. But they did know that the Ramsey girl had a safety deposit box in a downtown bank. We made a canvas of banks in the downtown area, and a day later we located the safety deposit box listed in Ms. Ramsey's name. We obtained a court order and the box was open. In it we found practically all of the stolen jewelry. Almost $50,000 worth. Ben and I went back to the main jail where we had Virginia Ramsey signed out for investigation. We brought it to the interrogation room where we confronted her with the evidence.

[Virginia Ramsey]

I didn't think you'd find out. I didn't think you'd ever find out.

[Detective Ben Romero]

How about the first Ms. Ramsey?

[Virginia Ramsey]

I got the key. You can have it. I rented a private garage. I got them stored in there.

[Detective Ben Romero]

All of them?

[Virginia Ramsey]

Just about, yeah. You picked up the others in my apartment.

[Detective Joe Friday]

How'd you manage to run this whole operation? Those men you had working for you, you cut them in for practically nothing. They were experts. The best in the business.

[Virginia Ramsey]

That's why I hired them. They were the best. It's too Bad. Should have worked out. Too bad didn't go.

[Detective Ben Romero]

You had a pretty fair run.

[Virginia Ramsey]

Half bad for me, was it? I'm only 23. First time I ever tried anything like it.

[Detective Ben Romero]

What gave you the idea?

[Virginia Ramsey]

I don't know. I wanted things. Pretty smart setup though, don't you think, Sergeant?

[Detective Joe Friday]

How's that?

[Virginia Ramsey]

Wouldn't you say I played the whole thing pretty smart?

[Detective Joe Friday]

Oh, I don't know. You figure it.

[Virginia Ramsey]

What?

[Detective Joe Friday]

You're in jail, aren't you?

[Narrator]

The story you have just heard was true. Only the names were changed. Protect the innocent on March 28, trial was held in Superior Court Department 89, City and County of Los Angeles, State of California. In a moment, the results of that trial. 23 year old Virginia Ramsey, the leader of the gang, was tried and convicted on four counts of first degree burglary and four counts of receiving stolen property. The three male members of the gang were convicted of first degree burglary, also four counts. They are now serving their terms in the state penitentiary. First degree burglary is punishable by imprisonment for not less than five years. Receiving stolen property is punishable by imprisonment for not less than six months nor more than five years. Ladies and gentlemen, vacation time is here again. And a great many of you will be taking trips in your automobile. Danger is never absent from the highways of America.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Be careful.

[Narrator]

The care you take may save a life and that life may be your own. 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. Stay tuned for Counter Spy next over most NBC stations.

[Commercial Narrator]

You just realized your business needed to hire someone yesterday. How can you find amazing candidates fast? Easy. Just use Indeed. Stop struggling to get your job post seen on other job sites with INDEED sponsored jobs. Your post jumps to the top of the page for your relevant candidates so you can reach the people you want faster. According to Indeed data, Sponsored jobs posted directly on indeed have 45% more applications than non sponsored jobs. Don't wait any longer. Speed up your hiring right now with Indeed. And listeners of this show will get a $75 sponsored job credit. To get your jobs more visibility@ Indeed.com Arts, just go to Indeed.com Arts right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Terms and conditions apply. Hiring Indeed is all you need.

[Adam Graham]

Welcome back. I hate to attack the honor of Finnish burglarers. That's one of those sentences you just never expect to say. But the real reasons they don't rob houses when people are there is because they don't want witnesses and this case illustrates why, as that one error led to the police getting their big lead and ultimately prison time for all involved. Well, now we turn to listener comments and feedback and we're going over to Spotify with a comment from Harrison who writes regarding the big I went to bed last night and I had a wife. Sounds like the start of a Traveling Wilbury song. Romero's yeah, and his Joe. I wouldn't worry about it. We'll call it a white lie. Both caught me off guard for different reasons, but both deserved a radio award for delivery. He delivers laugh and can tug on the heart. Another reason he's my favorite partner of Joe's. There's a restaurant called Cephalu so I'm picturing a waiter giving an autopsy report. Well, thank you so much. I appreciate the comments. I'd actually look up the Traveling well berries and I thought they were really appreciated Obscure, but it was actually a super group of musicians including Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynn, Roy Overson, and Tom Petty and even someone whose knowledge of rock music is so woefully low. I know I can recognize that that would have been an amazing rope. So thanks for expanding my knowledge a little bit. Martin Yarborough definitely brings a different dynamic and you rarely get the sort of comedy sketch effectively that you got when you get into the sort of Ben Alexander and Harry Morgan eras as Friday's partner. But there are all these nice little understated bits of humor that really make him a believable cop. And Yarborough definitely, I think is a bit underrated in part because he got because of his accent, sort of natural accent. He got a lot of random Texas person roles that could be a bit one dimensional, but he was a talented actor and really brought something great to Dragnet. Thanks so much. Appreciate your comments. And now it is time to thank our Patreon Supporter of the Day. And I want to thank Mark, patreon supporter since March 2020, currently supporting the podcast at the Psalmist level of $4 or more per month. Thanks so much for your support, Mark and that will do it for today. If you're enjoying the podcast, 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. We will be back next Thursday with another episode of Dragnet, but join us back here tomorrow for yours truly. JohnnyDoller what's it all about?

[Insurance Agent]

Lee well, the floods along the Ohio have been pretty severe this year, Johnny. Somewhat later than usual. Yeah, that much I did read. About half a dozen of the big cities have been taking a real beating in spite of all their preparations for the big runoff. I know it's been true all over the country. Well, what you don't read about in the headlines though, is the little places like Carteret. It's my old hometown, Johnny. I've sold a lot of policies there, particularly to the local shopkeepers, you know, on their stocks and merchandise. So there's been a lot of flood damage and your company's having to pay.

[Detective Ben Romero]

Up a lot of claims?

[Insurance Agent]

No, not yet. So far the town's been lucky. Most of the recent bad storms have been across the state line up in Pennsylvania or over in West Virginia. Same was true last year and the year before.

[Detective Ben Romero]

So.

[Insurance Agent]

So the people down around Coloret, farmers mostly haven't gone ahead with their flood control project the way they should have. Is kind of red right on the Ohio. No, it's in a valley few miles north. It's on the Crooked river, and parts of the town are actually below the riverbank. Now you see what that means?

[Detective Ben Romero]

Yeah, I sure can.

[Insurance Agent]

Most of the year it's a quiet, lazy stream about 50 or 60ft wide. But when the feeder streams up in the hills start pouring water down and if it overflows, half the town will go with it and swept right down into the Ohio.

[Adam Graham]

I hope you'll be with us then in. In the meantime, send your comments to box13greatdetectives.net Follow us on Twitter at radiodetectives and check us out on Instagram instagram.com greatdetectives from Boise, Idaho, this is your host, Adam Graham signing off trying to lose weight.

[Commercial Narrator]

It's time to try [e-mail] for you. You can access affordable doctor trusted weight loss treatments tailored just for you. These include oral medication kits or compounded GLP1 injections through hers. Pricing for oral medication kits start at just $69 a month for a 10 month plan when paid in full upfront. No hidden fees, no membership fees. You shouldn't have to go out of your way to feel like yourself. Hers brings expert care straight to you with 100% online access to personalized treatment plans. That puts your goals first. Reach your weight loss goals with help through hers. Get started at forhers.com for you to access affordable doct trusted weight loss plans. That's for hers.com for you. F-O-R-H-E-R-S.com for you. Paid for by HIMS and HERS Health Weight Loss by hers is not available everywhere. Compounded products are not FDA approved or verified for safety, effectiveness or quality. Prescription required restrictions@for hers.com apply.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Valspar Ultra starts at just 29.98 a gallon, so we've got you covered when your daughter wants to paint her room again after last year's masterpiece of a unicorn mural.

[Commercial Narrator]

Dad, please.

[Detective Joe Friday]

Or when you realize that maybe you went too hard on the grayish I miss color. Or when you were sure you wanted a home gym but your elliptical is currently hanging your laundry.

[Narrator]

What about a home office?

[Detective Joe Friday]

Shop everything you need for your next phase with Valspar. Available at Lowe's. Price varies by sheen.