Dragnet: The Big Market (EP4894)

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Great Detectives Present Dragnet (Old Time Radio)

Episode: Dragnet: The Big Market (EP4894)
Host: Adam Graham
Original Air Date (Dragnet episode): October 25, 1951
Podcast Release Date: January 22, 2026

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Overview

In this episode, Adam Graham presents and reflects on “The Big Market,” a classic Dragnet radio show from 1951. The episode dramatizes the police investigation into a pair of prolific supermarket bandits and showcases the meticulous and collaborative investigative methods of the LAPD, including witness composites and large-scale stakeouts. Graham also discusses the period-specific details, such as mimeograph machines, and their importance in police work at the time.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Case Background: The “Market Bandits”

• (03:04–09:56) Episode Introduction
  • Two men have been robbing supermarkets across South Los Angeles over a three-week period, hitting 11 stores in 21 days.
  • M.O. details: Morning robberies, always use a stolen car (usually Pontiac or Nash), abandon car nearby, sometimes switch to another vehicle or use public transport.
  • One suspect stays in the car; the other executes the holdup, typically holding a white handkerchief over his face and armed with a nickel-plated revolver.

2. Investigative Methods

• Information Distribution – Mimeograph forms and bulletins for wide awareness.
  • Quote (05:01, Joe Friday): “Well, I better lay out the whole thing for you. A lot of the copies are going to the Retail Grocers Association. All their members.”
  • Insight: Use of mass-printed forms and composite sketches distributed to grocers and assigned officers.
• Eyewitness Composite – Creation of a suspect’s likeness based on a witness who saw the bandit’s full face.
  • Notable Moment (09:56–11:10): Mrs. Swanson provides detailed input for the composite, identifying facial features from mug shots.

3. Stakeout Operation

• Large-Scale Stakeout Setup
  • Collaboration between LAPD and LA County Sheriff’s Office; 25+ teams covering a mapped area.
  • Quote (13:14, Adam Graham as Joe Friday): “We figured if we could get some help from Metro, put maybe 15 or 20 crews down in the area for the next couple of days, might stand a good chance of grabbing them.”
  • Key Detail (15:21–17:25): Units assigned to specific nine-square-block territories, focusing patrols on main thoroughfares where previous robberies occurred.

4. Multiple Near Misses and Adaptation

• Bandits Adapt Tactics
  • Robbing a store owner in the street instead of inside a market to avoid stakeouts.
  • Quote (21:01, Narrator): “Despite the fact that they'd changed their MO... we had no doubt that the same two men... had committed the holdup.”

5. Break in the Case and Final Pursuit

• Apprehension of One Suspect
  • High-speed chase and arrest after a holdup; one suspect escapes on foot with the money.
  • Quote (23:23, Joe Friday): “I got one of them.”
• Interrogation & Further Investigation
  • The captured suspect, Grant Jameson, denies involvement; clues point to associates via addresses in his wallet.
• Climactic Arrest
  • Friday and the team track down Matthew Sanford at an apartment, catch him after a brief confrontation.
  • Notable Moment (27:44–28:25): The arrest scene, money sacks from the recent robbery discovered.

6. Resolution and Sentencing

• Both suspects tried and convicted on 14 counts of first-degree robbery.
• Quote (28:34, Narrator): “The two Market Bandit suspects... were tried and convicted... and received sentences as prescribed by law. First degree robbery is punishable by imprisonment in the state penitentiary from five years to life.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Mimeograph Machines
  • Host Commentary (30:06, Adam Graham):
    “...the secret star of the episode, the mimeograph. Not something that people are as familiar with... but it was really important before you had photocopiers... a huge step ahead for printing and running off copies.”
• Eyewitness Strain
  • Mrs. Swanson (09:56): “Very sorry, officer. Just gets a little confusing after a while. Looking at all these pictures, I did get a good look at the man's face... I just can't settle on one of these pictures...”
• Advice to Officers During Stakeout
  • Joe Friday (18:18): “No, not yet. Don’t let them make you the first.” (On the bandits never hurting anyone yet.)

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Host Commentary & Historical Insights

• Mimeograph Machines as Police Tools (30:06–31:35):
  Adam Graham reflects on the importance and cultural presence of mimeographs, connecting their practical use to his memories from a sitcom (“Perfect Strangers”), highlighting their central role in efficient information sharing in mid-20th-century policing.

• On Law Enforcement Cooperation (30:06):
  “A good case and one of those episodes where the capture comes from a partnership with Los Angeles county, which is really important in real life to so many LAPD operations.”

• Comparison to Crime Films (30:06):
  Graham connects the composite process to scenes in the noir film "He Walked by Night," noting the evolution in criminal identification techniques.

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:04] Dragnet case introduction and crime description
• [05:01] Outline of bandits’ M.O. and initial details for information distribution
• [09:56] Key eyewitness interview with Mrs. Swanson
• [13:14] Cross-agency stakeout planning
• [17:25] Briefing and questions about operational procedures
• [19:45] The stakeout in action; no early success
• [21:01] Bandits change M.O.; latest victim’s delayed report
• [23:23] Break: capture of one suspect after robbery
• [27:44] Climactic arrest scene and property recovery
• [28:34] Verdict and sentencing narration
• [30:06] Adam Graham host summary, historical reflections

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Final Thoughts

This episode is a model of Dragnet’s hallmark realism, focusing on painstaking police work, teamwork, and the coordination between city and county jurisdictions. The methodical buildup, attention to analytic details like suspect composite sketches, and the practical realities of old-school police communication (mimeograph machines, stakeouts) immerse listeners in the procedural world of mid-century Los Angeles law enforcement.

For fans of classic radio drama and true crime, this episode offers both suspenseful storytelling and a fascinating window into vintage police methodology.

Transcript

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[Frank Cunningham]

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[Adam Graham]

Welcome to the Great detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This is your host, Adam Graham. In a moment, we're going to bring you this week's episode of Dragnet. But first, I do want to encourage you. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software. Today's program is brought to you in part by the financial support of our listeners and you can support the show on a one time basis at support.greatdetectives.net and I want to thank Robert for supporting the show that way. Thank you so much for your support. You can also become one of our ongoing Patreon supporters for as little as $2 per month. Just go to patreon.greatdetactives.net but now, from October 25, 1951, here is the the big market.

[Bubba Wallace]

Bubba Wallace here from 2311 Racing. You know what's slower than a pace car waiting at the car wash? That's when I fire up Chumba Casino. It turns those slow minutes into fast fun. With new games every week, you'll never get bored. Next time you're stuck in the slow lane, Speed up with Chumba play [e-mail] let's Chumba.

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[Narrator]

The story you are about to hear is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent. You're a detective sergeant you're assigned a robbery detail. A pair of bandits are staging a rapid fire campaign of holdups in your city. In 21 days, 11 food markets have been robbed. The holdups Go on. The suspects are still unidentified. Your job.

[Joe Friday]

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

[Joe Friday]

Was Tuesday. September 26th. Was hot 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. It was 9:18am when I got to the Record Bureau. Lieutenant Cunningham's office.

[Frank Cunningham]

Joe, what's doing?

[Joe Friday]

Oh, not too much. Got a job you can do for us, Frank? Like to have it as soon as you can get it out? Oh, what's it about? Own these market bandits. We've already gotten out a dozen teletypes and bulletins on them. Like to get out some mimeographs too, if we can.

[Frank Cunningham]

General distribution, eh? What do you want on them?

[Joe Friday]

Well, I better lay out the whole thing for you. A lot of the copies are going to the Retail Grocers Association. All their members. Uh huh.

[Frank Cunningham]

No luck with those two thieves so far?

[Joe Friday]

No, we're no closer than we were three weeks ago. Figure this ought to plug another loophole.

[Frank Cunningham]

How many copies you figure you want on this? About a thousand.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, that's fine. That ought to do it. All right.

[Frank Cunningham]

Okay, now what do you want to go into, Joe?

[Joe Friday]

Ron, you better lead off with the first job they pulled. That was on the third of this month. Makes it a little better than three weeks now. They hit a supermarket out on Pico.

[Frank Cunningham]

Okay, got it.

[Joe Friday]

Ever since, they've averaged about three jobs a week. We know they're hitting nothing but supermarkets. All of them on main thoroughfares. No small neighborhood stuff.

[Frank Cunningham]

I got it.

[Joe Friday]

So far they've confined their operations to the 77th Street Division in the county territories, generally the south end of town. They're two men and they got a pretty well established M.O.

[Frank Cunningham]

well established M.O. okay.

[Joe Friday]

They're hitting in the morning hours, usually from the time the markets open up until around noontime. They use a stolen car 95% of the time. A car stolen from the industrial area. Cars they steal for the jobs are always either a Pontiac or a Nash. All right. Well, we also know they're dropping the stolen Cars within a short radius of the hold up scene, about a half a dozen blocks or so. In some instances they use a second automobile or public transportation, some kind bus or streetcar, you know, to make their getaway after they drop the stove.

[Frank Cunningham]

Just a minute, Joey.

[Joe Friday]

I'm sorry. Going a little fast, huh?

[Frank Cunningham]

Yeah, okay, I got it.

[Joe Friday]

Okay, well, let's see.

[Frank Cunningham]

All right, go ahead.

[Joe Friday]

Now, they usually pull up and park directly in front of the market that they're gonna hold up. One of the men always remains in the car behind the wheel. Apparently it's always the same man.

[Frank Cunningham]

Here's the description.

[Joe Friday]

Meager, we know he's good size, mwa, fairly large build. Here's about the best description we've been able to piece together on the second man. Picked up a little bit from each victim. Second man described as MWA, also about 5 foot 8 inches, medium build, 155 to 160 pounds. Always wears a hat, brown suit, rough material of some kind, maybe tweed. Want to smoke, Frank? Huh? Smoke?

[Frank Cunningham]

Oh, no, no. All right.

[Joe Friday]

When he enters the market for the holdup, the second man always holds a white handkerchief. Holds a white handkerchief to his face as if he's wiping his eyes. Keeps most of his face covered with it. During the robbery, he's armed with a nickel plated revolver, possibly.38 caliber. We know the jobs are well cased because in almost every instance the suspect goes directly to the manager of the market.

[Frank Cunningham]

Goes directly to the manager, hu.

[Joe Friday]

He hands the manager a brown paper sack, tells him to put the money in it and then he takes off. So far he's never attempted any rough stuff. No gunplay. On three occasions when the suspects got only small amounts of money at one market, they hit again in 15 or 20 minutes at another store in the same general area. They never make any attempt to disguise or conceal the license number on the getaway car. As I say, they always abandon the car a short distance from the hold up scene.

[Frank Cunningham]

I see. Okay, I got it.

[Joe Friday]

Well, that's about all of it, Frank. I guess you can boil that down into some kind of shape, huh?

[Frank Cunningham]

Yeah. Okay, I'll have it typed up in the form. I'll get you a copy before we make the run, see if it's okay with you.

[Joe Friday]

Fine, thanks.

[Frank Cunningham]

It's not going so good, huh?

[Joe Friday]

No, it isn't, Frank. Pretty slow. I've been on top of the thing for a couple of weeks now. We're still looking for some kind of a break.

[Frank Cunningham]

Say, I understand Glenn Chandler from your office took off for some fishing down in Mexico, huh?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. He's not doing bad from what I hear. I got a card from him yesterday. He's down by Keno Bay. He put the bite on me to send him a dozen mutton plugs.

[Frank Cunningham]

Fish must be hitting pretty good down there.

[Joe Friday]

That's what he says. Yeah, those big brown sea bass especially. I wouldn't mind getting in a couple of days down there myself.

[Frank Cunningham]

Excuse me. Yep?

[Narrator]

Record Bureau.

[Joe Friday]

Cunningham.

[Frank Cunningham]

Yes.

[Joe Friday]

A minute.

[Frank Cunningham]

You Joe? Thanks, man.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. Oh, yeah, Ben.

[Frank Cunningham]

When?

[Joe Friday]

All right. Yeah, okay. Right away. Yeah.

[Frank Cunningham]

Bye.

[Joe Friday]

Check that for me later, Frank. Might be a little change.

[Frank Cunningham]

What's the matter?

[Joe Friday]

Market bandits. They hit again. 9:38am Ben and I got in the car and drove to the scene of the bandit's latest holdup. A new supermarket out on Slauson near the intersection of South Broadway. After interviewing the manager of the store and all available witnesses to the robbery, there wasn't much doubt about the identity of the suspects. The description and MO Fitted perfectly with that of the two men who'd been staging the whirlwind campaign of market robberies throughout the south end of the city for the past three weeks. The approach and execution of the holdup was the same in every detail, even to the stolen car they'd used, which was found abandoned a short distance from the robbery scene. There was only one deviation, and it was the first break we'd had in the case since it started. A woman customer at the market, a Mrs. Thomas Swanson, saw the hold up man as he left the store and ran to the getaway car. She told us that the car door apparently stuck when he tried to pull it open and that he took away the handkerchief which he'd held to his face in order to pull the door open with both hands. During those few seconds, she got a good look at him. After taking the crime report and making our preliminary investigation, we brought Mrs. Swanson downtown. We had her check through mug books of all recent parolees from the state penitentiary, all ex convicts with robbery records. After a couple of hours of checking mug shots, she couldn't seem to make positive identification.

[Mrs. Thomas Swanson]

Very sorry, officer. Just gets a little confusing after a while. Looking at all these pictures, I did get a good look at the man's face. I just can't settle on one of these pictures, so.

[Frank Cunningham]

Well, from what you did see of him, Mrs. Swanson, the lower part of the man's face especially, can you find a good likeness in any of these?

[Mrs. Thomas Swanson]

Well, yes, I can find good likenesses for some of his features, but none of them are all together. In any one of these pictures here. Like the mouth and chin on this man here?

[Joe Friday]

Yes, ma'. Am. Is that pretty close?

[Mrs. Thomas Swanson]

Most exactly, I'd say. And then the nose on this one here, it's the very same. I just haven't seen any picture that fits them all together. You know what I mean, don't you?

[Joe Friday]

Yes, ma', am, I understand. Now, these five pictures here that you've picked out, you'd pretty much say that they incorporate all the features of the man that you saw getting there?

[Mrs. Thomas Swanson]

That's right, Officer. This man here, and this one, too. I'd say the lower part of his face was exactly like that. The small mouth, mustache, just like that. And the chin, pointed, like on this man.

[Frank Cunningham]

And the upper part of his face, would you say it resembled these others here?

[Mrs. Thomas Swanson]

Yes, these three here, Just the upper part, you see, around the eyes, the forehead. I'd say that was very close. Now, just put the two sets of pictures together. I think you'd have them, man. Perfectly. Sorry I can't be more help to you. As I say, looking at all these books of pictures, it gets a little confusing.

[Joe Friday]

Well, you've given us quite a bit of help, ma'. Am. Thank you very much.

[Mrs. Thomas Swanson]

Not at all. Is there anything else?

[Joe Friday]

No, thank you. Not right now. We've got your address and telephone. We'll probably be contacting you in a day or two. If you'd like to wait right here, we'll make arrangements to have one of the officers drive you back to your home.

[Mrs. Thomas Swanson]

All right. Thank you very much.

[Frank Cunningham]

Goodbye, ma'. Am. We'll be talking to you.

[Mrs. Thomas Swanson]

Yeah. Yes? The biopsy.

[Frank Cunningham]

What do you think, Joe?

[Joe Friday]

Well, it's more than we had yesterday. Her description's the best we've got on the guy so far.

[Frank Cunningham]

How about getting a composite picture made up from the mug shot she picked up?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. You want to duck in and get somebody to drive Ms. Swanson home? I want to go in here in the captain's office. Yeah, okay.

[Frank Cunningham]

Thanks, man.

[Narrator]

Ronnie, how'd you make out?

[Joe Friday]

Well, could have been worse, Captain.

[Narrator]

Woman find anything in the mug books?

[Joe Friday]

No positive identification. She picked out five of them she thought were close, I think maybe put off over at the crime lab. Ought to be able to make up a pretty good composite from him.

[Narrator]

She fairly positive about the man's description?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, seems to have a clear idea. Good composite ought to help us quite a bit.

[Narrator]

You get this new description? That memory graph you haven't made up?

[Joe Friday]

No, not yet. I'm gonna see Frank about it in a minute.

[Frank Cunningham]

Hi, Skipper. Ben got ahold of Jess Gonzalez, Joe. He's gonna drive Mr. Swanson home.

[Joe Friday]

Fine. Did you ask him if he checked on that last run we made through the stats office?

[Frank Cunningham]

Yeah, he picked it up. He and Frank Estrada are gonna start checking the names this morning. It's not much. Been pretty well picked over already.

[Narrator]

That's all you got from the witnesses out there this morning? Description from this Mrs. Swanson?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, that's about it. Rest of it was their usual mo. Swanson woman was the only one who got a good look at the guy when he took the handkerchief away from his face.

[Narrator]

How about the getaway car?

[Frank Cunningham]

They're fine, same as the others. Leighton Prince checked it over clean.

[Narrator]

Well, two thieves had their share of luck.

[Joe Friday]

When we get on it, how about Metro division, Captain? Can we get any help out there?

[Narrator]

What do you got in mind?

[Joe Friday]

Well, we know the. The take that the two thieves got in that job this morning was pretty small for them. $340 from their M.O. in the past. We know whenever they get a small take on a job, they usually hit another place fast. They work in a fairly concentrated area down the south end. They only go after big markets on the main thoroughfares. Well, I was thinking if we could get some help from Metro, put maybe 15 or 20 crews down in the area for the next couple of days. Might stand a good chance of grabbing them.

[Frank Cunningham]

We were talking to Dick Tiernan over at the sheriff's office, Skipper. He says he could put some of his men down that area too. Cover the county. On. On the fringe. Is the territory around there?

[Joe Friday]

What do you think?

[Frank Cunningham]

All right, fine.

[Narrator]

See if I can get Stevens at Metro right now. Set it up. Figure about 20 crew. Is that right?

[Joe Friday]

Just about. Yeah. With any kind of luck at all, we ought to land them.

[Narrator]

Sure. Worth a try. Lieutenant Stevens, please. Yeah, Joe, this is Harry Didion. Fine, fine. We got a little stakeout problem here. How about using some of your men? About 30? All right, I'll settle for 25. McKay. Yeah. South end of town. Those market bandits, Brian, would you have them report here at Rowry 7 o' clock tomorrow morning? Ryan, thanks a lot. It's all set. You got 25 men, 7:00 clock tomorrow morning. Okay, Scabper, we'll give you a dozen teams to start with. Gonzalez and Estrada are one more. How many you figure working from the sheriff's office?

[Joe Friday]

Oh, about four or five teams, I imagine.

[Narrator]

All right. It's your operation. You two will be in charge on our End. You run the show, you brief the men.

[Frank Cunningham]

If you need anything, call me.

[Joe Friday]

Right.

[Frank Cunningham]

How about the overall plan, Skipper? You got any special ideas?

[Narrator]

Just one. Yeah, get them.

[Joe Friday]

1:18pm we got the revised description of one of the hold up men to Lieutenant Frank Cunningham at the Record Bureau. He told us a thousand copies of the special mimeograph form containing all available information on the two market bandits would be ready for us that night. We met with Sergeant Put off the artist at the crime lab and he went to work making up a composite picture of one of the suspects from the mug shot selected by the robbery witness, Mrs. Swanson. When the picture was completed, the we had Mrs. Swanson check it for similarity to the actual hold up man. And then we brought it back to the Record Bureau where a thousand copies were made of it. The pictures along with the mimeograph forms were sent immediately to the Retail Grocers association for distribution to all market operators throughout the city. Additional copies of the picture and the information sheet were given to each man who was to work the stakeout when we met in the squadron at seven o'clock the next morning. Besides the men from Metropolitan Division and the men from Robbery who are going to work with us, Lieutenant Dick Tiernan and Sergeant Dave Carey from the Sheriff's office were also there for the briefing.

[Frank Cunningham]

Well, briefly, that's a rundown on the two suspects and the MO they follow. It's the same information and description on them you'll find in those memeo forms we handed out. Joe, you want to take over, give them their son?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. Well, if you'll just take a look at this pin up map here for a minute, I'll try and brief you on how the stakeout's gonna go. The way we got it figured anyway. Now we've worked out a plan we think ought to be the easiest and the best way to work it. If any of you have any suggestions as we go along, would sure like to have them. All right. Now as you can see from the map here, the stakeout area is in the south end. It runs from. Can you all see it from there? Yeah.

[Frank Cunningham]

Okay.

[Joe Friday]

It runs from Santa Fe Avenue over here on the east to Vermont Avenue on the west, running north and south. Now, we'll have to cover from Santa Barbara Avenue on the north down to Manchester. That'll be the southern boundary right there. That's the area the thieves have been working. And we're going to have 14 of our own crews covering that area. And Dick Tiernan and Dave Terry from the Sheriff's office will have their men covering adjoining county territory. Now, we've broken the map down into equal units. As you can see here, each unit will be covered by one car. And each of you will be assigned a unit number. Romero and myself will be an 80k. We'll have a roving unit. We'll cover the entire area. You'll have three way radios in your car, so you'll be able to contact us directly if you have to. Now, if you'll check the map again. You can see these green pins we've placed here. Each one of them represents a market robbery. Now, notice that every one of them is on a main thoroughfare. Manchester, South Broadway, Vernon South Hoover. I don't have to tell you that that's where you'll have to keep a sharp watch on the main street. Each of the individual units here on the map will be covered by one car. As I said, each one's roughly nine blocks square. Now, you'll be responsible for the area assigned to you. We haven't got too much time, so before we go down the list to assign the areas, have you got any questions? Any questions at all? Yeah.

[Frank Cunningham]

Suppose there's a 211 call in somebody else's area. I mean, other than the one you're assigned to. Do we leave our area and head over there?

[Joe Friday]

No, Jess, I meant to bring that out. If there's a robbery, call in somebody else's area. Stay put till you get a call to lend a hand. Anything else?

[Frank Cunningham]

Yeah, how about the managers of these markets? They've been briefed on a stakeout. They know we're gonna be covering the area?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, they've all been alerted. Now, in case of a holdup, they might try to contact you directly. They'll be looking for you, you'll be looking for them. That it? Bob's that covered for you?

[Frank Cunningham]

Well, yeah, but I'm just wondering about

[Narrator]

this number two suspect, the one who

[Frank Cunningham]

drives the getaway car.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah?

[Frank Cunningham]

Well, it says here on the dope sheet, number one suspect carries a nickel plated revolver.

[Narrator]

How about number two?

[Frank Cunningham]

He carry a gun?

[Joe Friday]

Well, I wish I could answer that. We don't know. All the information we got on him is on the sheet right there.

[Narrator]

I see. Well, they never try any rough stuff anyway, do they? No gunplay? They never hurt anyone?

[Joe Friday]

No, not yet. Don't let them make you the first. 7:30am we finished handing out the assignments and the men left to take up their stakeout positions in the south end of the city. Two men to a team. Each team in a three way radio car. Each car to patrol a designated nine square block unit. There were 20 such units within the frame of the overall stakeout area. At the same time, cruiser cars from the sheriff's office operating on their own radio setup began patrolling the fringe positions which fell in county territory. Through Control one at our communications division. We kept in continual contact with them. 8:00am all the cars were in position, each of them patrolling their individual nine square block unit. The first two hours passed. No reports, no sign of the market bandits. Between 10am and noon, half a dozen possible suspects were stopped and questioned by different teams and then brought to the 77th Street Division for processing. All of them were eliminated. The afternoon of the first day went pretty much the same. We had shakedowns on four parked cars in the area and more shakedowns on possible suspects. Nothing materialized. The next morning Ben and I, along with the other 32 men in the stakeout, picked up where we'd left off. Again, no sign of the suspects, no reports. The morning of the third day, the stakeout detail met in the squadroom as usual and then left to take up their Regular assigned positions. 7:35am how about it, Joe?

[Frank Cunningham]

You ready to go?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, just a minute. Okay, let's go. I'll get it.

[Frank Cunningham]

Okay.

[Joe Friday]

Robbery Friday? Yeah. Where? When was that? Yeah, right away. Oh, come on, we gotta hurry.

[Frank Cunningham]

What is it?

[Joe Friday]

Market bandits. Maybe we got them. 7:50am Ben and I arrived at the intersection of 58th and San Pedro streets. Two of our stakeout cruiser cars were pulled up at the southwest corner. One of the teams was Jess Gonzalez and his partner Frank Estrada. Gonzalez briefed us on what had happened. Victim's the owner of the supermarket down

[Frank Cunningham]

the block in San Pedro was walking from his house to the store and he passed the Corner here about 7:35am Had $340 on him.

[Joe Friday]

Part of yesterday's receipts from the store.

[Frank Cunningham]

They got him right up the street there.

[Joe Friday]

Took every dollar of it.

[Frank Cunningham]

His shirt was a market bench. Memo description?

[Joe Friday]

They check out all the way.

[Frank Cunningham]

We had two teams on as soon as we got the word. Located the hold up car a minute ago.

[Joe Friday]

Where is it?

[Frank Cunningham]

Down on Avalon Boulevard.

[Joe Friday]

How about the sleeves, Jess?

[Frank Cunningham]

Car was empty. No trace of them.

[Joe Friday]

Saturday, 8:05am the latest victim of the market bait, the owner of the supermarket on San Pedro street was taken to the 77th Street Division where the crime report was made. He told us that one of the men who robbed him bore a very close resemblance to the composite picture which we'd had drawn up of one of the Suspects. We figured we missed grabbing the hold up men by a matter of minutes. Even though some of our units were in the general area at the time of the robbery, it did little good. The victim had delayed reporting the holdup for a full five minutes because the bandits had threatened to find him and kill him if he did. Despite the fact that they'd changed their MO to the extent of robbing the store owner on the street instead of in the market proper, we had no doubt that the same two men we were looking for had committed the holdup. The abandoned car which they'd used in the robbery was gone over for fingerprints, but it was clean. Meantime, the stakeout went on. Saturday, passed Sunday. Monday. Nothing. No leads on the suspects, not a trace of them. Tuesday, the same thing all over again. The operation settled down to a dull routine. Tuesday night we checked the closing of the last market in our stakeout area. 10:45pm Ben and I drove back to the 77th Street Division.

[Frank Cunningham]

Every day seems to get a little longer. These lousy stakeouts sure don't wear very well on me.

[Joe Friday]

Yeah, I don't know what the setup's gonna be if we don't get a break pretty soon. We can't hang onto the gang for Metro division forever.

[Frank Cunningham]

Joe, has been a bad month. All I need now is a visit from the in laws. Yeah, I'd do it up fine.

[Joe Friday]

You talked to Jess at dinner, didn't you?

[Frank Cunningham]

Yeah.

[Joe Friday]

What'd he say about those two men they picked up on South Main this afternoon?

[Frank Cunningham]

They brought them in for processing. Checked them out, couldn't find anything wrong. Both of them clean.

[Joe Friday]

Go ahead. Yeah,

[Frank Cunningham]

how about grabbing something to eat after we check out, huh?

[Joe Friday]

Okay. Want to stop by Johnny Cokin?

[Frank Cunningham]

What about a French dip sandwich? How's that sound? Haven't had one for a long time.

[Joe Friday]

All right. Suits me.

[Frank Cunningham]

How was that? Uhhuh.

[Narrator]

Oh, sorry, I. Oh, wait a minute.

[Frank Cunningham]

He just came in. It's for you. Friday turn in from the sheriff's office.

[Joe Friday]

Oh, yeah, thanks, Bob. Friday talking? Yeah, Dick. Just now. Mm hmm. Yeah, we'll be over right away.

[Frank Cunningham]

I got anything?

[Joe Friday]

Market bandits pulled a hold up a couple of minutes ago. And store on Graham Avenue. It's out in county territory. Yeah, one of the sheriff's units took the call, chased the hold up car two miles. They get the themes? Well, you're half right.

[Frank Cunningham]

Huh?

[Joe Friday]

I got one of them. 10:52pm Ben and I drove to the sheriff's Firestone substation where the Market Bandit suspect was taken after his apprehension. When we Got there. We talked to deputy sheriff Sergeants Eddie Jones and Mel Viney who had made the arrest. They said they arrived at the scene of the hold up the market on Graham Avenue a few moments after the bandits pulled away in their stolen Nash sedan. Jones and Viney gave chase but when they finally forced the hold up car to a halt the driver was the only one in the car. Somewhere along the route of the 2 mile chase the second robbery suspect had succeeded in jumping out along with the loot taken in the robbery and making good his escape. A broadcast and the bulletin was gotten out immediately. The hold up suspect they'd apprehended had been fingerprinted and they were checking on his identification downtown. Ben and I went in to talk to him. Jones and Viney stood by while we questioned him.

[Frank Cunningham]

I still don't know what it's all about. Property clerk will give you an itemized receipt for everything you have on you. Take everything out of your wallet now put it out in the table. You're making a pretty big thing out of nothing, aren't you? I haven't done anything.

[Joe Friday]

You want to check those things from his wallet? Bin the cards and some of those papers.

[Frank Cunningham]

Yeah.

[Joe Friday]

This your true name on this card here. Grant B. Jamison, is that right? That's right. This your present address?

[Frank Cunningham]

Yeah.

[Joe Friday]

You ever been arrested before?

[Frank Cunningham]

Why do you ask that?

[Joe Friday]

It's not gonna take too much time to find out. You might as well tell us.

[Frank Cunningham]

We still don't know what this is all about. I was speeding a little, that's all. I haven't done anything.

[Joe Friday]

Now you're kidding yourself Jameson. We got everything on you that we need. What do you think you're gonna gain by stalling us?

[Frank Cunningham]

You must have me mixed up with somebody else. I don't know what you're getting at. This card here you took out of your wallet. You recognize it? Why? These names and addresses you've got jotted down on the back of it. Mind checking them out for? I don't know what you mean. Take a look. These here, whose addresses are they? Who are the people? Let's see. No, I don't think I even remember them. Just something I scribbled down, that's all.

[Joe Friday]

You don't even remember one of them?

[Frank Cunningham]

No, I don't think so.

[Joe Friday]

Why do you ask? Why don't you come off it mister?

[Frank Cunningham]

What are you talking about?

[Joe Friday]

You know what we're talking about. You know it as well as you know your own name. 14 robberies down here in 28 days. You're picked up in the hold up car after the last try. Tonight, your partner gets away. Now you go right on kidding yourself, Jameson. Play it real close. You see how far it gets you.

[Frank Cunningham]

I sure wish I knew what you were talking about. I don't know the thing about any robberies.

[Joe Friday]

All right, then you stand by, mister. You're going to know a lot more about him. You're going to know a lot in a hurry. Yeah, just as soon as we pick up your partner. 12:20am we continued to question the suspect, Grant Jameson, but he refused to admit anything. Even the fact that he'd stolen the car that he'd been apprehended in. The only strong lead we could pick out from the articles found on his person was the list of four names and addresses jotted on the back of a card found in his wallet. 12:30am Ben and I left the substation and drove to the address Jamison had told us was his present residence. An apartment house on Vernon Avenue. The manager told us he'd moved at least a year ago without leaving a forwarding address. 1am we began checking out the list of four names and addresses which we'd found in the suspect's wallet. The first was a Jack Williams, his address a Spring street rooming house. The landlady told us he'd moved to Cleveland, Ohio, three months before. The second was a John Gallagher. His address a third rate hotel in East Hollywood. He hadn't been registered there in the past two months. The third was a Matthew Sanford. His address turned out to be an apartment house in the Crenshaw district.

[Frank Cunningham]

Want to flash the light on the mailboxes over here, Joe?

[Joe Friday]

Yeah. Here you go. You see the name there?

[Frank Cunningham]

Yeah. Here it is. M.L. sanford. That ought to be at apartment five.

[Joe Friday]

All right, let's try it. Front door open?

[Narrator]

Yeah.

[Joe Friday]

Let's go.

[Frank Cunningham]

Number five should be down this way, I guess. Number five.

[Joe Friday]

Okay, let's give it a try. Grant.

[Frank Cunningham]

That you police officers? You Matthew? Sam?

[Joe Friday]

Get up, Peter. All right, hit it, Ben.

[Adam Graham]

Yeah.

[Joe Friday]

All right, come on. Put the gun down. Drop it.

[Frank Cunningham]

I got it, Joe. All right, get your hands on.

[Joe Friday]

I'll cover him. Look around, huh? Right. What is this anyway? What's the idea?

[Frank Cunningham]

You tell us.

[Joe Friday]

You pulled the gun. You got no business in here.

[Narrator]

You got no right.

[Joe Friday]

All right, you just stand still. We'll explain it downtown.

[Frank Cunningham]

Money sacks. Joe found him in the desk. Same market they hit tonight.

[Joe Friday]

All right, Sanford, you got nothing from me. I don't know what you're talking about. Get his coat, will you, Ben?

[Frank Cunningham]

Yeah.

[Joe Friday]

What are you trying to build anyway? You haven't got anything on me. 14 robberies, mister. That's what we got on you. You think you got proof? We got it.

[Frank Cunningham]

Yeah, 14 victims.

[Joe Friday]

Come on, let's go.

[Narrator]

The story you have just heard was true. The names were changed to protect the innocent. The two Market Bandit suspects, Grant Burton Jameson and Matthew Roy Sanford. Were tried and convicted on 14 counts of first degree robbery. And received sentences as prescribed by law. First degree robbery is punishable by imprisonment in the state penitentiary from five years to life. You have just heard Dragnet a series of authentic cases from official files. Technical advice comes from the office of Chief of Police W.H. parker, Los Angeles Police Department.

[Bubba Wallace]

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[Adam Graham]

Welcome back. Well, a good case and one of those episodes where the capture comes from a partnership with Los Angeles county, which is really important in real life to so many LAPD operations. I also did like the scene of making the composite picture. It was a bit different. Other scenes that I had seen, for example, in He Walked by Night. They had kind of like pre cut images of different features to determine how the person looked. And they had multiple witnesses. Here you just had one witness. But she was able to say it looked a little bit like this top of the face and that bottom of the face. And that was a way they produced the composite. And of course there is the secret star of the episode, the mimeogr. Which is not something that people are as familiar with. But it was really important before you had photocopiers come along. Starting in the latter part of the 60s and then into the 70s. These were a huge step ahead for printing and running off copies. And certainly would be a vital tool in trying to get multiple copies of anything out to the police force. And I. I actually know of the mimeograph. My first time hearing of it wasn't in this episode of Dragnet or any other episode or movie from the era or even radio program. You don't hear those mentioned a lot. It was actually from a 1980s sitcom. My. My favorite comedy show when I was growing up was Perfect Strangers, and it featured a mimeograph machine. They made it believable. It was the first episode where they were working in the newspaper, and the writers recognized the mimeograph machine would be a great set piece for the sort of physical comedy they did on that show. And so the writers had the copy machine breakdown, and so Balky had to use the mimeograph machine. Cousin Larry tried to help him, and hilarity ensued. Believable in 1987 that a venerable Chicago newspaper would have one of those machines still around. But these days, I don't think you would find one outside of a museum or a private collection, perhaps. Well, now it's time to thank our Patreon supporter of the day. Thank you so much. On September 2015. Currently supporting the podcast at the Psalmist level of $4 or more per month. Thanks so much for your support, John. That will do it for today. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software and be sure to rate and review the podcast wherever you download it from. We'll be back next Thursday with another episode of Dragnet, but join us back here tomorrow for yours truly, Johnny Dollar.

[Frank Cunningham]

Where. Hi, Maureen.

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[Frank Cunningham]

Yeah, some kid's been mugging with this lock. You want some bait? No, no, this is one trip I didn't come to fish. How is it, by the way? Fishing? Yeah, fine. Oh, just my luck. No, I'm supposed to meet somebody here. Oh, must be that fellow out there. He was already there when I got here.

[Joe Friday]

Oh.

[Frank Cunningham]

Where? You see that boat? The bottom side up on the pier near the end. You mean the man sitting beside her? Yeah. Got himself a fishing rod, looks like. Could be. Want some bait? I'll.

[Joe Friday]

I'll walk out with you and see

[Frank Cunningham]

if you don't mind. Not at all. So the fishing's been good, huh? What have they been catching? Oh, quite a few bass last couple of days off the pier. Yeah, there's some kelp beds in close.

[Joe Friday]

Brings them in around here.

[Frank Cunningham]

Funny, I'm your friend there. You don't see me.

[Joe Friday]

Hey.

[Frank Cunningham]

Sleep, I guess. Hey, watch out. He's living.

[Joe Friday]

Driving.

[Frank Cunningham]

Hey, mister. Mister.

[Joe Friday]

He.

[Frank Cunningham]

He isn't sleeping. That's right. He's dead.

[Adam Graham]

I hope you'll be with us then. In the meantime, send your comments to box Thirteenreatetectives.net Follow us on Twitter Radio Detectives. Check us out on Instagram. Instagram. From Boise, Idaho, this is your host, Adam Graham, signing off.

[Bubba Wallace]

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[Joe Friday]

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[Frank Cunningham]

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[Joe Friday]

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[Frank Cunningham]

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[Joe Friday]

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