Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is true. The names have to protect
the innocent. You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned to burglary detail. You get
a call that a clothing store in Hollywood has sung losses. The value of the stolen property
is over twelve thousand dollars. There's no lead to any of the thief. No pattern to his
M.O. Your job. Get it. It was Wednesday June 3rd it was hot in Los Angeles we were working
the day watch out a burglary detail my partner's Frank Smith the boss is Captain Bernard. We
were on our way out from the office nine fifty six a.m. when we got to fifteen ninety two
vines three dots men so. One thing to help me find Leonard Dodd yeah that's in
public. Thank you thank you. I don't know how it happened. No I just came in this morning
I know. I'm just going to play coach and even unpacked it. You know what to do.
I know what white with a button down college yeah I called the cops and. Yeah well that's
twelve thousand. For a couple customers just came in I'll call you back. We don't worry
about it. That's it now you know Mr Dodd that's right police officers Frank Smith my name
is Friday and I know that you reported a burglary this morning yeah you guys from Hollywood
thought you were out of central didn't think I'd seen around here before you want to tell
us what happened yeah come on back to the store. When you first discovered this app
well this morning when I came in I went back here to unpack merchandise and I found most
of it gone. And I'll get to do. And this is our store room with a shipment from the east
the cases I think you get can't unpack the invoices for a suit with all of us stolen
merchandise taken from this room I'm not sure about that I do know that a shipment of suede
jackets and West kids was in here gone now a couple of cases are sure it's to the only
way I'd have of knowing if it took anything from out in the store itself would be to make
a complete inventory. What do you have to make the loss and twelve thousand dollars
but was the last time you saw the merchandise in here yesterday afternoon about what time
when I have to guess if that I say about three or three thirty how many doors are there to
the story is just the front one one in the back opens into an alley what if we could see
the rear door back this way when the person I called the old and up gone and I checked
the door it was still like a system in the store yes didn't go off like that. For yourself
there's nothing like. Well that's what I thought too I look pretty close to any sign of where
they going how about windows possibly got into a window no I'm sure that you got in
there got. A good ten feet and barred they couldn't get in there I love our crime I'll
take a look who has keys to the plate well I've got one guesser but who else well they're
just me and now how yeah I'll take her he's sort of a different manager whenever I'm not
around he takes charge of things we have to get me from him listen I don't want to give
him any trouble I'd put him anything at all I don't want you asking what I said he would
like five years thing that's what I thought I'd call it a loser but you're sure of one
thing was that in anybody who works at the store did they seem pretty sure about that
I know my people all of them have been with me for a couple of years I trust them all
I know it's that you're doing some remodeling here how about the workman possible one of
them took the merchandise it's Friday you know how much twelve thousand dollars in closing
yes sir I have an idea the both of you couldn't carry it in one trip not in a couple of trips
when we took the book by targeting the civil it's going to keep we have to open up to let
them in and they leave before we close they tried to get things out of the store one of
us that have seen it couldn't possibly have been one of them right yeah you want to call
crime lab sure I need your phone yes on the counter in front of the store I just don't
understand it sir this doesn't seem to be any way they could have gotten all of the
clothes out no way at all we must have found one ten thirty eight the crewman crime lab
arrived and went over the place the whole stuff checked and all entrances and exits
of the store were checked for fingerprints both the front door and the rear exit were
examined but there was no mark of a Jimmy the windows on the second floor were gone
over but the locks on them were secure and there was no apparent way they could have
been used to remove the stolen merchandise we talked to the other clerks in the store
and then we got approximately the same story that we obtained from the store manager they
verified that the merchandise had been on the premises at three thirty p.m. the day
before none of them could say for certain that it was there after that however while
Frank was checking with the members of the crew from the crime lab I called the names
of the employees into the record bureau for a check yeah that's Baker B.A. K. E. R. W.
M. A. forty six five hundred and fifty six five oh no no visible marks of stars right
now I got something for you OK if you'll check the names I'll give you a call later but we
got upstairs and talking to me and figure from the found the merchandise had to be taken
out the day time we go along with that yeah. They were open somebody used to keep. Things
like we do that somebody took the cases out the planet them and pick the stuff up last
night or you got up here when it opens out on the roof of the next building to check
the lock from the head with no come on climb up. No bars on this one. Over here.
Now what. Sure. This one's like.
Manager says I have no kind of the rest of it now take them out last night there's a
piece that might the rest of it will be here so we. Have a manager clothing store to watch
on the kitchen solar guys when we arrange Mr. Plastic out for a fourteen PM crime lab
finished their investigation back in the most he told us that he checked the fingerprints
found on the doors and windows but that all of them have been eliminated as they belong
to the members of the store staff or to the workmen. He told us that they found an impression
of a tire print in the dirt of the alley next to the building where the stolen clothing
had been found went on to say that they checked and found the truck belonging to the plastic
contractor had tires of the same type but it left the impression. It's in the building
next to the clothing store there's no new information on the possible identity of the
thief three fifty two PM we checked back with the record bureau on the list of names of
store employees. One was that. How long. Did you get out clean.
Of. Nothing on the rest of my. Yeah OK thanks but. I mean yeah I checked the names came up
with one possible you know your system manager Al Baker he's done time for burglary.
The record bureau had come up with the information that Alfred Roger Baker had been
arrested in nineteen forty three for burglary he'd been tried and convicted on three counts
he'd spent a term in the state penitentiary at San Quentin and he'd been released since
that time he apparently had led the life of an exemplary citizen. Four oh seven PM Frank
and I took him to the office of clothing store so I'm back here sure. Well you don't think
I had anything to do with this burglary do you how many times you've been arrested.
Why do you ask that we just want an answer. In the record we've seen it you know without
me telling you we'd like to hear it from you I guess at the time I'm clean since then I
thought when you did the type you're giving me yes that's right but what do you guys
happen on me for I just work here I mean just because I did it hits for burglary that I
had anything to do with this you know you didn't mean sure acting like I did bring me in
here talking about how I was arrested sure acting like you think I had something to do
with this one good for how you figure that you've got the only other to your door look
I don't like to bring this up maybe you'll break cops haven't thought about it but who
says God couldn't have done well he's in trouble big trouble this would be an easy way out
of it all right you tell us well all this stuff is insured be pretty sweet for him to
lift the merchandise collect on the insurance and then sell the stuff to come real good
if you try to figure it anyway all I know that you guys are trying to wrap something
around me that doesn't fit and I want no part of it I'm right down it must be a couple of
days because you're in trouble financially then why is he doing all this remodeling he
hasn't got much choice he's got a brightness place up he's going to lose what business
he's got you check into him you look it up you'll see what I'm talking about make a lot
more sense you haul me in here can you account for your time last night from when from the
time you left here yeah I can give you every minute I go ahead I left here at six thirty
that's the time I always leave who was here when you left you mean who locked up that's
right Leonard he always locks up always where do you have to go left on up to the corner
and had a beer that's like always to anybody in the barn or you have a bartender in the
way to sell box for you sure they will I'm going to have to I left there I drove home
the times you leave the bar about seven ten I had one beer smoke two cigarettes put a
nickel up the home I left at seven ten she was you know you're going to want to know
what I'm going to prove and that you have to take my word for it. What time do you get
home. By seven fifty or do you live on the valley traffic heavy going out at the past
that time and I took me ten minutes longer than it usually does you prove when you got
home Yeah I can how. Talk to my wife we got a time clock on the wall just as you come
in the door I punch in and out the time will be there for about last night I was home I
sat around watch television went to bed he didn't leave your house. No enough for the
time I got home last night until I left this morning pretty bad isn't it how do you mean
that I can prove every minute of it but you get off my back copy start looking around
you'll come up with a lot I got a lot more chance and a lot more reason to hide that
stuff than I do that won't be hard because I haven't got any you sit tight and I'll show
you who sold that stuff. Wait a minute where you go just over to the desk I want to show
you some what you hold it just. You want one you can never learn do you open up to
a door this one Yeah. Now open that one. What do you want a folder right there this one
yeah so I put up on the desk. Going over. Yeah I take a good look at the reason the
stuff was going but it's a joke bills and I think it's what it's paid for take a look
at them yourself here like your past do please remember your credit is important overdue past
do go to the rest of them they're all like that there's no place in the country anymore
to extend any credit to dogs not one you're looking to see that a reason to steal a step
well there's your answer you talk to him about he's got the reason. I'll make. Telling you
you've got to lean on somebody you lean on Leonard Dodd he's the one don't come around
here bothering me. Yeah. You might be telling the truth stuff on the roof yeah it's gone.
You are listening to drag the authentic story of your police force in action. With the removal
of the remaining packages on the roof I mean opportunity if the thief was going to question
the people in the store from them we learned that the man has brought the cases of clothing
into the store himself we talked to him and he offered as an explanation the fact that
the insurance company wouldn't like him leaving the supply of expensive suede coats up on
the roof he went on to say that catching the thief was our business apprehend them. They
tried to question him regarding the accusations made by the salesman Al Baker he said they
were ridiculous and we saw that in the listening to the next convict went on to say that he
resented the questions we put up to the opinion of the office made arrangements for a stakeout
to be set up on the roof of the building next door and then Frank and I returned to the
office to check further on Leonard Dodd's we checked with his bank and we found that
he had several notes on the clothing store the head of the loan department told us that
Dodd's payments had been irregular and that at the time he was overdue on one of the notes
we contacted the insurance company and found that Dodd's had made a claim on the stolen
merchandise that morning and had requested payment as soon as possible. We turned a list
of the stolen articles over to pawn shop detail and asked them to see that the information
would get into the hands of the second hand dealers in the city ten fifteen p.m. Frank
and I filled out the log and prepared to leave the office you about ready yeah I'll be right
over there I got it. Very great Friday that's ma'am hmm. Well I'm not sure no the officer
that handled the cases in here right now what if I could take a message. Yes ma'am he'll
call you when he gets in. All right yes all right if you wait just a minute I'll transfer
the main jail not the main jail they'll probably be able to tell you yes that's right just
a minute hold on please. Would you get this call to two nine four nine please that's right
the bail clerk thank you. Woman wants to know how much it's going to cost to get another
jail. I got it. Very great Friday yeah. That's right we did. Yeah. Well I was. That's right.
Yeah OK we'll wait here right bye. Now it's like we've got it made maybe what you mean
radio car out in the West Lake District just picked up a couple of kids both of them were
loaded down with clothes their label on them as God's clothing. The radio car officer had
told me on the phone that he and his partner while making a routine patrol of the area
and spotted two boys walking down the streets carrying large quantities of clothing when
they were stopped the two suspects were unable to account for the clothes they were not able
to tell the arresting officers where they'd gotten them. In checking the pair out the
officers had called burglary detail and we'd gotten our first concrete lead to the thief.
Ten forty seven PM the two suspects arrived at the office their names were checked through
our and I and they were both found to have misdemeanor records listing petty theft and
attempted burglary one of them Walter Kramer had been convicted on burglary charges and
had been sentenced to Preston school for boys he was at the time on parole while the other
boy waited in the squad room Frank and I questioned Kramer in the interrogation room. Eighteen
forty left you know that already we ask me again for I told the other cop gave him all
the information for the live by seventy four Brandon Street you want to tell us where you've
got the clothing you had when you're picked up smart cops you figure it out you know I'm
for all now no I got out clean are you still that way that depends on how you read this
where'd you get those things I found you expect us to buy that I don't care if you buy it or
not it's a truth you're pretty heavy aren't you I've been around that time up at Preston
didn't do you much good did it be surprised what I learned up there what you were sent
there for that depends on where you sit you were picked up carrying a load of stolen clothes
and want to tell us where you got them you tell me come on kid where'd you get the clothes.
You're going to play it that way are you there any other what were you yesterday starting
when from when you got up I got to tell you all that we want to hear it pretty dull I
go ahead I got up about noon you got a job yeah where around what do you do nothing I'm
a philosopher I study people I just sit around all day and study how do you live like up
the tab go ahead with what what you did yesterday told you got up about noon had some breakfast
then went over to Harry's that's the boy you were picked up with yeah I went over to his
house sat around and watched the television how long were you at his house maybe six sat
around talk philosophy talked and watched the old movies what you do them left him out
to study people where'd you go down play the couple games of pool that's a lead and after
that went out to a movie you got any way of proving that sure talk to Harry see your alibi
yeah you talk to him you tell you may not know this but he's in the theft as deep as
you are I got some information for you cop neither one of us is in on it all I'd get
you caught we're taking to the jail you know bookings you called it bottom he going to
help charge suspicion for fifty nine B.C. burglary that's right come on. You mean that
stuff is really stone that's right you're telling me right yeah. And a true you tell
us about it no I mean Harry and me didn't steal his stuff but at least not the first
time what do you mean by that we stole it yeah you got us cold for that but not the
first time where'd you get it from a garage that's a truth we stole the stuff from a garage
where is the place I'll show you there's a lot more stuff there a lot more clothing yeah
whose garage is it I don't know Harry me we're walking around out there and we saw this truck
pull up I got out and unloaded some packing cases when was all this last night where the
garage looked though it wasn't the first time place was loaded by the shirts coats suits
all kinds of things I mean we figured that we might as well help ourselves we didn't
steal the stuff originally not the first time what's the address where the garage is I don't
know up on short L.A. Never like we take you up there we pointed out for sure I'll show
you I want to see him get his get a real good what do you mean imagine having a garage full
of stolen things lost to their sure the important thing is that you know that we didn't steal
it the first time you got to believe that we didn't steal it the first time there's
really a difference. Well fifteen we talked to the suspect that had been picked up with
cream he gave us substantially the same story that we've gotten from the first boy they
both agreed to take us out to the garage where they found the stolen merchandise before we
left the office we put in a call to the clothing store but there's been no report from the
stake out on the roof the two suspects directed us to drive on we took the freeway out to
Glendale Boulevard and turned right we drove out to Loma Vista and then we turned right
again the boys directed us up the hill and then onto a side street we went about a half
a block farther before they pointed out the house to us we drove down the street and parked
the car Frank and I and the two suspects walked back to the house and into the rear of the
yard a two car garage in the rear of the building was unlocked we went in scattered around the
place we found several large packing cases of clothing the labels on them were from some
of the most exclusive men stores in the city there was no question about it this was the
plan for the stolen merchandise Frank stood by the back door of the house and I went up
on the front porch and rang the bell. Yeah you're Martin Hetman aren't you yeah do I
know you my name's quite a police department Oh yeah I'm not you over Dodge what is this
more questions yeah a few kind of late to come around it well maybe a little just going
to turn in can you wait a little morning I could come down the police department no I
don't think we're going to talk tonight. OK come on in thank you. Anybody else in the
house just my wife and kids where they upstairs are all asleep I told you I was just going
to turn in. That garage out back that long view what the garage out in the back of the
lot that you're it's mine what we use it for what do you use a garage for I keep the truck
there but where's the truck tonight I left it at the service station down blendable I
haven't agreed to you I'll change why anybody else use the garage beside you know everything
in it belonged to you. You might if I call my life when you do that from downtown. You
arresting you you found the stuff we found it. That's the right yeah. There's a man.
I guess I should have gotten out of the garage soon. Figured on the first thing in the morning
you talk to me this morning at Dodger should have known should have known right then I didn't
think you figured this way. I want to get your coat. Let me finish the cigarette. Figure
going real good when you're about. Well I'm a question contract you know that you told
us that this morning well I bet on the jobs all the contractors submit bids on how much
would do the work for you know I mean I always got in with a low bitch used to try the other
contract is crazy never could figure out how I could come out on you see it that you tell
me what you see if a job would cost me say thirty five hundred dollars to do I put in
a bit for twenty five hundred I always get the job and then I steal the other thousand
of merchandise they. Don't get hurt what about the store owner I weren't sure only by in
the middle was insurance company so you see nobody really got hurt you might finish that
cigarette now it just about. Pretty lucky you know that right sure this is going to be
the last time I think that after this I'd be able to go it straight got my equipment
all paid for money in the bank they get I could go straight this is going to be the
last time you were right once you. Am I telling me something what's that how do you tag me
how do you find out because a couple kids breaking into the garage they've stolen some
of the clothes they were picked up and they pointed the place out to us kids that's right
about that it's really terrible isn't it what is this younger generation I had legitimate
reason I was just trying to come out when anybody going to get hurt my way but those
kids I hope you're going to put away for a long time or the youth don't get you come
to us go just awful no sense of honesty at all I sure hate to think of what the world's
coming to you want to tell me something happened sure what do you want to know you said you
just stole the difference between what you agreed to do the job for and what it really
ought to be I got it right yeah just the difference but you hit the Dodger pretty high didn't you
twelve thousand dollars worth well you see that was a kind of a deal well I didn't get
anything on the last job not a thing so I had to make up for it you see what I mean
you know I had to come out some way nobody expected to take a complete loss with it I
wouldn't know about that I just wanted what I had coming yeah well you're going to get
it this time.
Martin April Hittman was tried and convicted of burglary in the second degree four counts
and received sentence as prescribed by law burglary in the second degree is punishable
by imprisonment in the state penitentiary for a period of not less than one nor more
than fifteen years or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year Walter
James Kramer and Samuel Arthur Nicholson were tried and convicted of burglary in the first
degree burglary in the first degree is punishable by imprisonment in the state penitentiary
for a period of not less than five years.
DRAGNET is a presentation of the United States Armed Forces radio service.
Thank you.
you