Ladies and gentlemen, 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 the burglary detail.
During the last two weeks there have been a series of burglaries in the Valley Division.
You haven't got a lead. Your job, find one. Dragmen, 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. It was Wednesday, September 9th. It was hot in Los Angeles.
We were working the day watch out of the burglary division. My partner is Frank Smith. The boss
is Captain Bernard. My name is Friday. We're on our way out to a recently completed housing
project in the Valley. It was 10.13 a.m. when we got to the corner of Moore Park and
Victory. Mayflower Homes. This is right here. Yeah. Two twenty four. I guess they haven't
sold them all yet. Five hundred bucks down. Not too bad. Pretty nice houses. You thinking
of getting a new place? I'm thinking. Kids are shooting up. We could use a little more
room. Just what they always wanted. House nobody else has lived in. Someday maybe. Yeah.
Yes sir. We're police officers. This is Frank Smith. My name is Friday. Oh how do you do?
Somebody reported a burglary at this address. Are you Sam Bikler? Yes sir. That's me. Would
you show us where he broke in please? Oh yes sir. It's in the front bedroom. Just this
right here. That's it. Just off the hall here. This window here you can see where he jimmied
it. I was careful not to touch it. You know fingerprints. That's good. Can you give us
a list of the things he took? No sir. Not for certain. We were just getting moved in
and we don't know for sure what's gone. A couple of silver trays and a pair of candlesticks
they're missing. Any cash? About twenty, twenty five dollars. When I changed to go out to dinner
last night I left it in my trousers. They were in the other bedroom on the back of a
chair. Pretty dumb place to leave money. Your family live here with you? My wife. I see.
We've only been married a couple of weeks. Things he stole they were wedding presents.
That's too bad. Sure is a heck of a way to start out. Being married I mean. They wanted
a house in the first place. Well it's their own fault. What do you mean? Sally's parents
insisted on giving it to us. The down payment part. Sally will never be able to manage a
big place like this. She's just a couple of years younger than I am. Just a kid. Apartment's
what we ought to have. No point in arguing with in-laws though. I found that out pronto.
Yeah. Any idea what time the burglary took place? Yes sir. Between six and ten last night.
Must have been then between six and ten. We went over to Sally's folks for dinner. Our
refrigerator hasn't been delivered yet. I see. The reason I'm so sure about the time
is I wanted to find out how long it would take to drive there. I told Sally it wouldn't
be more than fifteen minutes. First time she's ever been away from home. She kind of likes
to feel that her folks are handy. I understand. Hollywood Hills. That's where they live. Off
of Mulholland. Took us fourteen minutes. Left here six o'clock exactly. News was just coming
on the radio. Got there six fourteen. I'm not so sure when we got home but it was right
around ten o'clock. That's close enough. Of course I didn't know about the burglary then
when we got home. We just went straight to bed. Didn't come in here. We used the back
bedroom. Yeah. It wasn't until this morning when I started looking in my pants for cash.
Is it possibly broke in while you were asleep? I might have slept through it but not Sally.
At least little thing wakes her up. She'd have heard of it. Must have happened while
we were out. Have you noticed anybody suspicious hanging around the last couple of days? No
sir. Of course we're brand new in the neighborhood. Most of the houses aren't even sold yet. We
wouldn't know who was suspicious and who wasn't. Be all right if we talk your wife? She couldn't
tell you anything I haven't. Is she here now? Over to mother's. This kind of thing. Well
it kind of threw her you know. You know how it is. It's just a kid. Yeah we understand.
Wish it had been me that found out about the bird. The bird? Well didn't I tell you? I
meant to. No. Darnedest thing. Parakeet. Somebody gave it to Sally when she was a girl. Taught
her how to talk. Talk real good too. Why should a burglar do a thing like that? What did he
do turn it loose? No sir he killed it. We talked to Mrs. Brighton at her parents home.
She was unable to add anything to what her husband had told us. One fifteen p.m. The
crime lab reported that there were no useful fingerprints on the Brighton window. Pictures
were taken of the Jimmy marks. There was no other physical evidence. September eleventh.
Two more burglaries took place in a new housing tract near Sepulveda Boulevard. The burglar
had followed the same M.O. used on the Brighton house. One victim also told us that three
pet canaries had been killed. The other victim had no pets. By the end of the following week
four more burglaries had occurred in new housing developments. In each case where the home
contained pet birds the bird was killed. Other pets were not disturbed. Circulars describing
the stolen articles were sent to all pawn shops in the city. September twenty first
eight oh five a.m. We checked in for work. Oh man. What's the matter? You still asleep?
Yeah I didn't get a wink last night. Things happened all night. It's my fault Joe. Never
should have told her about all those new houses going up nowadays. It was a big mistake. I
thought you told me you were considering a new house. Yeah I changed my mind. We've got
enough people staying with us as it is. Favre relatives. Brother-in-law Armand you know.
Oh him huh? Yeah he's down here. As long as he has to sleep on the living room couch he'll
take off after a day or two. Give him a real bed and he'll stay with us for the rest of
his life. I get it. Burglary Friday. Yes sir when did it happen? I see. Just a minute
please. I'll go ahead. That's two fourteen south. Yes sir I've got it. Right. Well we
got another one. Yeah? Pet shop over near Lancashire Boulevard. The shop? Uh huh. That
doesn't sound like our boy. Might be if they sell birds. We left the office and drove out
to the Big's Pet Shop on a side street in North Hollywood. Nine oh seven a.m. We interviewed
Jasper Biggs the owner of the store. He told us that during the night the back door had
been forced open. Seventeen dollars was missing from the cash register. Money ain't important
you understand. Not that anybody likes being robbed. Yes sir we understand. Besides it's
happened before. That's why I keep this sign up here on the register. Tells them how to
open it. I see. A couple years ago a fella broke in wrecked the machine trying to get
it open. That cash register is worth a whole lot more than I keep in it. Shut up over there
all of you. Dang much racket in here a person can't even think. Now where was it? Oh yeah
about the money. Now like I said it don't matter the seventeen dollars. Yes sir. The
birds is different they do matter. Sir. Well he killed all of them every last one. I see.
Parakeets canaries parrots. Parakeets and canaries now they don't matter I can replace
them. Insurance will take care of it anyway. Them parrots is another story it's a different
story entirely. Yes sir. Two of them was on consignment worth over a hundred dollars a
piece. A hundred dollars. Bet you never figured birds run that high did you? No sir. Well
they do. Parrots anyway some of them. And once more my insurance don't cover birds on
consignment how do you like that? Huh? Check with the fellow who sold me the policy right
after I called the police. Says birds on consignment aren't covered loophole that's what it is
loophole. Yes sir. Probably somebody wanting to buy them parrots be just my luck. Big spec
shop. Who? Oh yeah yeah they're still here just a minute. It's for you. Thank you. This
is Friday. Yeah. OK. I got. Right. We got another one tracked off Riverside Drive same
routine one thing's different there some lady song. We ended our interview with Mr Biggs
we drove out the address of a Mrs Nelly diver who had just reported a burglary Mrs diver
told us her house had been entered shortly after she left to do her marketing she discovered
she'd forgotten her grocery list and she came back for it when she returned the burger was
in the dining room he had entered through a side window the M.O. appeared to be the
same as in the other recent burglary. Every time such a surprise look on a man's face
in my life he just stood there like he was frozen solid for a minute or more and then
he let out through the back door and look at his flat. How long were you gone from the
house man five ten minutes soon as I remembered about my list I started back. I don't know
why I'm getting so forgetful old age must be catching up with me well it's a good thing
you did forget the diary. Oh you mean so he didn't get time to steal anything. Nothing
around here worth stealing. I happen to pick me if I lived up in Bel Air one of those
things one of us who we think it is he satisfied with small homes I mean he pulled this kind
of stunt before yes. You think you'd recognize the man if you saw him again I think I'm the
man who broke in here you said you got a good look at him real good today in the dining room
for a full minute maybe more than you'd recognize him would you I don't see why not it isn't
the first time we met up you understand how to tell him once before when was that last
week sometime I'm not certain when he was very few middle of the week and through there
you sure it was the same man but the same came right up to my door what do you want I'm not
certain of that either and back in my brain trying to remember the many fellows around
here last week to three milkman trying to sign me up a couple of people wanting me to take
newspapers three or four asking about dry cleaning somebody telling Rob and half my
time running to the door to help me I can't remember which one he was. No sure fate you
think you were just pretending to be a door to door salesman of some kind or other seems
to me they were all trying to sell something but always happens when you settle in a new
location where did mine coming downtown was for a while I wouldn't mind but I'd like to
show you some photographs you can pick them out for right now if you could get me just
give me a minute to get my hat and change Henry's water and Mike canary out in the kitchen
and you notice the way he's been funny man he's usually thinking of a blue street this
time of day.
They went into the kitchen with Mrs Diver and we found the dead bird she agreed to accompany
us downtown eleven oh five a.m. We pulled the mug shots of burgers who match the description
that she'd given us and show them to Mrs Diver she identified one of the photographs Stanley
a Bush and pushing it done time in the state penitentiary as a cat burger from his five
times we learned his acquaintances in the places he was known to frequent three thirty
six p.m. We located Bush in a bar on North Main. Stand by me yeah please often you don't
say I talk to you Bush and be my guest come on let's go what's the matter with right here
it's not don't get noisy until later on when I write here for you last night what time
all night and this morning eight o'clock this morning why do you want to know I want to
go well give me a chance to finish my beer will you. Look you boys want to know I was
last night all right I'll tell you I just want to know why that's all you've been up
the valley lately. Well come on how about that's why after me I think I've been pulling
those house problems what do you know about what I read in the papers you know more than
that I do there was another one this morning that's news to me that's so yeah I bought
a paper yet today lady saw you right after you broke in me huh he says it's you what
she needs glass we don't think so but you'll never make it stick going to try I'm clean
not even on parole no more it won't be for all this time it won't be anything I'll come
on Bush and quit stall but don't get yourself in the broad take it easy you live longer
suppose I got an alibi I'll try for size for all night and this morning go on I was with
friends we got a lady who says different I got a lot of friends yeah we know your friends
will settle for the lady ten thirty last night till nine o'clock this morning with him every
minute where you ain't going to like it where were you going to look pretty full on a tab
of pushing grunt tank Lincoln Heights Jail. We verify Bush and alibi with a booking sergeant
of Lincoln Heights and we learned he was in the clear as far as the previous night was
concerned. Five or six PM we interviewed Mrs Diver again she wavered in her identification
of Bush's photo and she said she couldn't tell us anymore. Tell a type of the suspect's
description was set out the next day Tuesday September twenty second we had a meeting with
a skipper Captain Bernard Well where do we stand just about where we did when it started
it's not good is it. We thought we had him yesterday but it didn't pan out you got a
description well she's no better describing him and she is an identification it doesn't
mean much we figure he pretends to be a salesman of some kind that alley cases the house as
far as we can tell you need a lot more than that you know it's got to be stopped it isn't
just the burglaries seems half of the people in L.A. keep that bird and all my kids have
a couple of canaries themselves you get attached to them like you do anything else. You've
always seen the mail on this thing. Letters from all over not just in town here all over
people are raising pain my own kids asked me when we're going to catch it and with any
longer for a break we're going to make one you got any ideas. Just been working housing
projects except for that one pet store you know well let's forget the store and see if
we got a pattern out of the houses rather all new places folks are just moved in and
tracks one or two in each development when he moves on so far he stayed in the Valley
division when they're building up out that way he won't run out of target you know they
open any new projects last week or so yeah couple he tapped him yet no we alerted the
owners told him to warn anybody who moves in probably won't do much good though Mike
if you do move. Wednesday September twenty third we go out to a new track just off Cold
Water Canyon Boulevard was called White Manor homes we found the track office near the main
entrance we went inside. I do for you interested in owning a new home for police officers Sir
this is Frank Smith my name's Friday police that's right sir. I don't think I've had any
parking tickets lately with murdering all about the bird man I suppose I think that's what
they call them in the papers you know the bird man yes it's about him he hasn't been
around here one else are not as far as we know well it's a relief after this makes much
difference you're in charge of this project I assume there's a my name's simple for a
simple I've got a card right here in the desk that's all right I own white man I see I guess
I should say me and the bank we own it together. It's all going to belong to the bank though
the way things are going and open their week now I haven't sold a single house I haven't
even had a decent offer. What's the trouble sir? Now you know what's the trouble just
as well as I do bird man that's a trouble folks just aren't going to move into any new
developments under these costs. He sent me to the circular last week the police department
I'm supposed to warn anybody who buys from me put them on their guard. Yes sir. Don't
need any warning as scared off as it is. Three months ago I'd be house sold out by now. It
seems to be you fellows are dogging it. I'm not telling you your business mind you but
it seems to me you should have picked him up before this. Yes sir maybe you can help
us. How's that? Well the sign out in front says that two of your houses are furnished
is that right? Oh that's just more display. Westman's department store did it. Figures
it's good advertising. Yes sir. Of course I don't sell them furnished just for display.
We'd like to use one of them for a few days. Use one? Yes sir. I'm afraid I don't follow
you. Well sir you've got a sold sign that you can put up in the front yard haven't you?
Well I guess so. Well we'll see that nothing's disturbed. If anybody asks you tell them that
a new couple moved in. Oh I get you. Decoys huh? Yes sir something like that. Well I don't
know. The department store might not go for the idea. Well we'll clear it with them. Well
it's all right mother. Thank you. How long you suppose it'll take? How long? To catch
him. On your guess it's as good as ours. If it works at all. It better work. Pressure's
building up. You fellas don't know what it's like being under pressure. Oh the bank a lot
of money on this project. Figured I'd have at least half a dozen houses sold by now.
Least half a dozen. Interest to be paid is the principal and the you know the bank expects
it on time. You can't blame them for that. No sir. You know what it's like having the
pressure turned on. We get a little every once in a while. Oh well that's different.
Your boss rides you and tells you to get on the ball. You don't have to worry. He can't
fire you. Cops are civil servants. Pressure from your boss? Well that's different. It's
not coming from him. Well where is it coming from? Guy who kills birds. We telephoned the
Wesley department store and we talked to the manager. He gave us permission to use the
house that they decorated. At a neighborhood pet store we purchased a cage and two canaries.
It was eleven thirty a.m. when we got back to White Manor Homes. Mr. Simple was putting
up a sold sign in front of one of the houses. What you got there? Oh canaries huh? Yes
sir. Well here's the key. In case you want to lock up. The door is open now. Thank you.
Want me to spread the word? What's that sir? That I've sold this place? We'd appreciate
that. Okay I'll see that it gets robbed. Thank you. Man some layout huh? Yeah it's very
nice. Yeah great. You know anything about taking care of birds? I don't think there's
much to it. There's water and sea. Hey Joe get a load of that couch. Yeah. Why is it
eight feet long? Just about. If they ever see this place I'm dead. What'd you tell her?
Oh we were on a job I certainly didn't go into detail. Wonder what it would cost? It
takes a joint up like this how much it would cost? More than we make. Yeah. Yeah it probably
wouldn't be very comfortable anyway. Not like having your own stuff you're used to. No.
Boy they're really taking up the storm aren't they? Yeah. They're kind of cute too. Hey
you know Joe Faye might like a couple of birds. They're good company for when the kids are
in school. Well maybe you can have those. I never thought of that. If he doesn't get them
first. No one came by the house that afternoon or that evening. At six p.m. Frank went home.
I stayed through the night. Thursday September twenty fourth nine fifteen a.m. We had our
first visitor. Frank waited in the bedroom while I talked to her. She was a young lady
who said that she represented the local chamber of commerce. She told me her job was to welcome
newcomers to the neighborhood. She gave me some maps and a book of coupons with the beach
jeans for free introductory gifts at various stores in the vicinity. During the rest of
the day we had four more callers. Two newspaper agents, a representative from a dry cleaning
establishment and a charity worker. As far as we could tell they were all genuinely fond
of birds. Four forty five p.m. A small old truck pulled up in front. Look coming up the
wall. Pretty close to the diver's description. Yeah. Tell me to get out of here. I'm better
if you want to. I. Want to.
Have. What's it about. Why I take over your yard.
Oh well I don't want to see about that. Ask a man for
a gardening job he says he'll do it himself weekends and after work and understand how
much work it will be wife knows better and knows the husband to who she's the one who
hires me well maybe I'm never a pretty big yard but I'm spending my weekends on the back
and I'm blaming one inside for me. How much would you charge for
a yard this size. I'm going to have a watering to know I guess we can take care of the water
well I come once a week then mow the lawn look after your flowers do we think planning
well we're pretty well landscaped now you'll want some of your own plants could use a couple
more roses alongside that possible. Man.
Just looking around small place again how much for the artworks I find my. Big yard
said so you know you'd only be here a couple hours a week you know. I find I can do you
think it over I got to show them how about twenty times not worth me more than that if
we're going to try you know how do you think I know the job is making the woods I have to
drive all the way out here I get my finest and. I see how do you have to find us then
I heard about this project I thought my movie so I'm going to go to the issue the only people
who have been. Probably will be before all. I pick up any other customers and project
I might come down twenty five and I'm ready to cancel what you think it'll drop back there
so. I'm going to hear most of the time I got back Oh shut up what is.
I wasn't talking to you on there and get crazy. What's wrong with them but I knew since
they're always screeching to get on somebody's nerves. I guess you don't like birds well I
could do without these. Why don't you get rid of them. Or say I.
Cried enjoy you know he talks to him all the time baby talk yeah just like my only.
Bird. The way to birds to. Oh you know when I was
a kid cages all over the place. I had fifteen twenty birds I'm lucky to get you
lucky. I had a dog once yeah that's the doubt is name is I'm not only dog ever had
killed one of our parents I wasn't his father. I got loose. And I'm not very just
playing with it to me and kill it sure. I got right around my mom did. And why.
I don't want to. Have another dog at that. Let me just play.
Just lay awake at night listen don't think that's what you call it. I mean.
Couldn't cover them over that was cool to cover them over. As night long had a listen
to them. I said get on the phone with. My like he's.
Come on. I couldn't stay after that.
Wish I could have stayed wish I could have seen her face next morning.
Still keep hearing them. Keep coming over and over.
And. Put them in a cage like my. I don't feel sorry for something just because it's
like that you might.
The story you've just heard is true the names were changed to protect the innocent
on November 12th the hearing was held in Department 98 Superior Court State of
California in and for the county of Los Angeles. Philip James Bortch was examined
by six psychiatrists appointed by the court and found to be mentally incompetent he
was committed to the state mental hospital at Mendocino for an indefinite period of
time. Dragon is a presentation of the United States Armed Forces radio service.
The the the the the the the the the.