All language subtitles for Dragnet S03E10 Public Affairs (DR-14).DVDRip.NonHI.cc.en

This is the city, Los
Angeles, California.

Over 3 million
people call it home,

and to serve them, the
largest group of public buildings

outside of Washington D.C.

The average year round
temperature is 65 degrees,

a natural resource
everyone enjoys.

The railroads were among
the first to realize this,

proclaiming in the East
only $5 from paradise.

With your ticket
came a land option.

It was just 100 years ago.

Along with the climate,
a brass band greeted

some of the early arrivals.

The great migration
still continues.

My job gets bigger every day.

I carry a badge.

The story you're
about to see is true.

The names have been
changed to protect the innocent.

It was Monday, October 7th.

It was fair in Los Angeles.

We were working out
of Public Affairs Division

Crime Prevention Section.

The boss is Captain Shannon.

My partner is Bill Gannon.

My name is Friday.

It was 8:50 a.m.

Lieutenant Bob Kearney
handed us an assignment

and forced the department's
new crime prevention program

by organizing neighborhood
action committees

to stop the criminal
before he strikes.

Now, take a look
at this, both of you.

This keeps going
up year after year,

not only here but
all over the country.

Yeah.

Last year, aggravated
assaults increased 8% nationally.

Auto thefts went up 12%.

Armed robbery 13.

I hear in Los Angeles alone,

there were over
60,000 burglaries,

and this year, there
would be more.

Right now, an average of
164 take place every day.

As you well know, that means
the crime rate is increasing

faster than the population.

I believe you know all this.

Just as you know, the
crime prevention is our

only hope of curbing
the increase in crime.

The average citizen makes
life far too easy for the criminal,

especially the burglar.

House doors left
unlocked. Cars not locked.

Easily moved merchandise placed
too close to the door of a store.

Money and jewelry
left out in plain sight.

The public's learning,
but not fast enough.

We're scheduled to talk to
a community action society.

And do an insurance
adjuster's association.

Good, but we've got to
take some direct action, too.

Now, we worked out the areas being
hardest hit by the thieves right now.

This district is
one of the worst.

It's a business area
of about a dozen blocks

bounded by Jarvis, Green Street,

Blake, and Sutton.

Small stores, restaurants, a
couple of barber shops, bars.

Who's hitting them hardest?

Everything from shoplifting
to purse snatching.

And the boys in Burglary and
Robbery think that most of it

might be the work of
the same small gang,

but without the cooperation
of the people in the area,

they haven't been
able to do much.

Now, your job is to
get that cooperation.

Yes, sir.

Now there's a
druggist in the district.

His name is Harold Wilson.

He has been trying to
get all the store owners

to form a crime
prevention organization.

- Any luck?
- No.

However, he has managed
to arrange a meeting

with some of them for tonight,

and he's going to need
help convincing them

they should cooperate.

Here's the time and the place.

We'll do our best.

- Joe, this is urgent.
- Yes, sir.

If your best isn't good
enough, do better.

6:20 p.m.

Bill and I spent the afternoon

outlining crime
prevention methods

to a group of homeowners.

Then we drove over to
the troubled neighborhood.

The meeting
didn't begin until 7,

but we got there early.

We wanted to look the area over.

Pretty nice stores along here.

Yeah.

You'd think they'd do
everything they could

to protect their property.

Yeah, but they don't, do they?

Nice area for shopping.

For stealing, too.

No wonder they're
being hit so often.

Dalton's Clothing
Store back there...

- He's got some nice stuff.
- Yeah.

Eileen was saying I could
use some new clothes.

- What do you think?
- It might be a good idea.

I've only had this suit a year.

My other one still
looks good, doesn't it?

- It looks fine to me.
- Then what's the idea?

What do you mean?

Why did you say
I need a new suit?

6:50 p.m. We went
into the restaurant

where the meeting was
scheduled to take place.

Harold Wilson, the man
who was trying to form

the neighborhood crime
prevention organization,

was there to meet us.

It was good of you
to come, Sergeant.

I just hope you haven't
wasted your time.

Why is that?

Well, I tried to get as
many to come as I could,

but I'm afraid only
a few showed up.

Then we will talk
to those who did.

They all agree in principle
that we should help each other,

but when it comes
to doing something,

you know what I mean?

Uh-huh. It's called
noninvolvement.

That's right. But it's our
neighborhood, our stores.

Why can't they see
they are involved?

Ah, I'll tell you why.

It's because we've got
our own problems to handle,

and if we do that,
it's more than enough.

Sergeant Friday, Office Gannon,

this is Lisa Ruby.

She was kind
enough to let us use

one of her banquet
rooms for the meeting.

Harry here was so worked
up about the whole thing,

I just couldn't turn him down.

But you don't think
much of the idea, is that it?

Oh, sure I do. People
like Harry need it.

It makes them feel secure.

Me, I've got everything
under control.

I hire good bouncers

and I spend a fortune
on burglar alarms.

I got steel bars
across all the windows

and double locks
on all the doors.

Now, you can
take my word for it.

This place is
absolutely burglar-proof.

You see, I'm one woman who
believes in looking out for herself.

Yes, ma'am. There are
others who said the same thing.

Is that right?

When they called us to
investigate their burglary.

7 p.m. The meeting began.

We kept it very informal.

Yes, we understand.

Well, the increase in
crime, particularly burglary,

continues all over the country,

but the ability of the
police to do their job

depends on the extent
of your cooperation.

Now to put it another way,

the problem today is
not chiefly the burglars

but the citizens who
refuse to become involved.

Maybe there's a reason why
they don't want to be involved.

Maybe it's because they're
afraid of what might happen.

How do you mean, sir?

Well, I don't feel like
taking any chances.

I run a delicatessen.

A lot of my customers
are these wild kids

who hang around here now.

They could do a lot
of damage to my place

if they had an axe to grind.

You mean you'd let
them do a little shoplifting

if they wanted to?

Well, as a matter of
fact, I suppose I would.

It's cheap insurance.

Don't be too sure
of that, Mr. Gulka.

Once they know they can
get away with the small jobs,

they'll start on
the bigger stuff.

Besides you're not
thinking of your neighbors.

How is that?

If they can get away with
shoplifting in your place,

they'll try it in every
store in the neighborhood.

And they try it now.

Not in my place, they don't.

Not in mine either. I
keep my eyes open.

Just a little while ago, I caught
some guy in sailor's pants

handling some of
the gold cufflinks

I've got in my window.

Brother, I threw
him out on his ear.

And you think that
was enough, do you?

- I got rid of him, didn't I?
- No, sir.

You probably sent him down the
street to somebody else's store.

Sergeant Friday, on a case like
that, what should have been done?

Pick up your phone.
Call the police.

I called the police once.

They took almost
an hour to get here.

Mr. Dalton, there are 3
million people in this city.

There are 5700 policemen.

There are bound to be
times when more calls come in

than we can handle.

But if yours is urgent,

if you say clearly the
crime is happening now,

the suspicious
character is here now,

your call will be given priority

and a policeman
will arrive quickly.

That sounds good
but what comes after?

If we phone in, we'd be tied
up with the police for hours.

We might even get
mixed up in a court trial.

We haven't got that kind
of time to spare, Sergeant.

Well, look at it this way.

If it's your store being robbed

or your home being broken into,

you'd want a neighbor
to take an interest,

to sacrifice a little time.

You've got to do the same thing.

The old golden rule, eh?

Well, when one of my neighbors
starts watching out for me,

I'll watch out for
him and not before.

Sergeant, when I was
speaking to your lieutenant,

he said there were a
number of things we could do

- to cut down the crime rate.
- There are.

Ask the police to
conduct the security check.

We'll be happy to inspect
your doors and locks

and other protective devices.

Make sure you don't
leave anything lying around

a burglar might
use to gain entry.

Far too many people
leave a ladder outside.

Now, that's an open
invitation to enter and steal.

During business hours,

make sure your employees
are criminal conscious.

Now before we came here,

we took a fast look
around the neighborhood.

We saw at least five mistakes
that you people are making.

The Boulevard Restaurant,

cash register on
patio left unattended.

We couldn't tell if
it was bolted down,

but every day somewhere,

one that isn't is carried away,

and if it was, it
only takes a minute

to open the cash
drawer and grab and run.

Pete's Delicatessen,

empty milk bottle cases
stacked on the sidewalk.

Now, a burglar who wants
to smash a store window

needs something
heavy to do it with.

An empty milk bottle
case works perfectly,

and it's light enough to carry to
any store in the neighborhood.

Cochrane's Stationery,

gutter pipe provides easy access

to second-story window.

The gutter pipe can't be moved

so the window should be barred.

You invite trouble
when you overlook

even difficult means of entry,

and this one is easy.

The barber shop,

manicurist seen placing
open purse on floor behind her.

Remember this.

There's always
somebody watching.

When that manicurist
turns her back,

a passerby could walk
in and take that purse.

It should be kept in
a more secure place.

Dalton's Men's Store,

expensive, easily
concealed merchandise

displayed in store window
and no display case doors.

Gold cufflinks, easily
carried, easily sold.

Such things tempt the burglar
and they shouldn't be displayed.

They have to be.

I'd never sell them
if they weren't.

Protect them then.

Install doors behind
the display window

and put steel grates over
the outside of the windows

to protect them at night
from window smashes.

And those milk
cases you mentioned,

they have to be left outside.

The milk company
picks them up every day.

Well, then make other
arrangements, Mr. Gulka.

Keep them locked
inside the store

until the dairy truck arrives.

Special doors, iron grates,

these crime prevention
business could cost us

more than the crimes.

We already pay
for burglar alarms

and we pay taxes that
run the police department.

As far as I'm
concerned, that's enough.

Anyway, it seems
to me all this is simply

an old-fashioned
straight and simple case

of passing a well-known buck.

How do you figure, ma'am?

Oh, here is how I figure.

It doesn't look to me like
you people do your job.

- Yes, ma'am.
- If you did,

there wouldn't be any
increase in crime, would there?

Do your job.

We are, ma'am.
That's why we're here.

7:40 p.m.

Bill and I returned
to the office

to fill out our reports
and to sign out for the day.

That Ruby woman
at the restaurant,

sure hard to get to, isn't she?

Yeah, same old story.

Nobody needs us
till they need us.

Yeah. Say, do you want
to come by the house

and have a bite to eat
with Eileen and me?

No, thanks. I'll
open a can of soup.

- Soup?
- Yeah, I'm not very hungry.

Never keep your
strength up on just soup.

That's all you're
going to have, huh?

Maybe I'll have
some sliced tomatoes.

You're going to have
anything with them?

What do you mean?

Well, a few sliced
Bermuda onions

would sure go good
with those tomatoes.

Maybe.

Wine, vinegar, and oil dressing?

Yeah.

A little toasted French
bread with garlic butter?

Yeah, I might do that.

You got any Parmesan cheese?

I usually keep some on hand.

Great on the bread, you
know, toasted under the broiler.

I know. I have it
that way sometimes.

- How about the steak?
- What steak?

Well, you keep some in your
freezer compartment, don't you?

Yeah, I got two or
three fillets I guess.

Great! You have to have
the broiler on for the bread.

You might as well toss
a couple of steaks on too.

A couple.

Now, how about dessert?
What do you got in mind?

I got some frozen
chocolate cake.

My favorite, with coffee.

Sure.

Sounds great to me.

- Huh?
- Fine.

I'll put the paperwork to bed,

you hop out to your place
and get things started.

Yeah.

- I'll call Eileen.
- You will.

Tell her I'm having
dinner with you.

- You are.
- I'm not like you, Joe.

- Is that right?
- Sure.

You invite me to
dinner. I accept.

Tuesday, October 8th.

Bill and I spent
part of the morning

talking crime prevention

to a breakfast session
of a service club.

10:45 a.m.

We reported the outcome of
the previous evening's meeting

to Lieutenant Kearney.

How did you do?

Well, we talked
for over 40 minutes,

but I'm not too sure
we reached them.

Seemed to have their minds
made up before they came.

The usual hard nose,
the usual know-it-all

that doesn't think he needs
his neighbors' cooperation?

A few.

One of them named
Charles Dalton.

Operates a men's clothing store.

- That's right.
- You might find him
and the others

in a different frame
of mind today.

How is that?

Somebody hit
his store last night.

459 PC, window smash.

Everything in the
window was taken,

including some
expensive gold cufflinks.

What about the burglar alarm?

It was tripped,

but by the time it was answered,

relayed to a patrol car
and the car got there,

three and a half
minutes had passed.

More than enough
time to grab and run.

These things have to be
stopped before they happen.

Burglary picked up any leads?

No, but Dalton swears
he knows who did it...

Some long-haired character
wearing sailor pants.

Burglary know how the
window was smashed?

An empty milk bottle case.

I guess this would be a good
time to talk to Dalton again.

You'll find him and the rest waiting
for you at Ruby's Restaurant at noon.

Harold Wilson phoned.

This time they asked him
to arrange the meeting.

I don't know, skipper.

It always seems to
be the same old story.

See what you can
do about changing it.

12:10 p.m.

We arrived at Ruby's Restaurant.

Every neighborhood businessman
who could get away was there.

The others asked to
attend a later meeting.

Bill and I did our
best to once again

drive home the importance

of the crime prevention program.

It's not enough to order a
would-be thief from your store.

Call the police. We'll get the
suspect's name and address.

Now, if Mr. Dalton
here had done that,

there's a good chance
we might have his suspect

in custody by now.

Never hesitate
to call the police.

Now, we can't be
everywhere at once,

so we've got to depend
on your eyes and your ears.

Report anything suspicious,
anyone troublesome.

Remember, when it
comes to shoplifters,

it's the hands that
do the stealing.

Instruct your staff
to keep their eyes

on their customers' hands.

And that's not easy.

Shoplifters use a
number of gambits

to hide their actions...

Bulky clothes, umbrellas,

newspapers, shopping
bags, phony packages.

They will try to rattle
your clerks by fast talking.

They'll offer money for one
item while pocketing another.

Now, your employees
should never accept money

from more than one
customer at a time.

Why is that?

The two customers
could be working together.

1:10 p.m. For more than an hour,

we detailed the various
ways crime can be prevented.

Not only by removing
the opportunities

but also by reacting
to anything suspicious

at work as well as at home.

Leave a front and rear
door light on every night.

It only cost pennies but it
might save thousands of dollars.

Don't tell strangers your
neighbors aren't at home.

That might be just the
information they're looking for.

Now, if you live
in an apartment,

report anybody loitering
especially in the daytime.

Apartment burglars
work in the daytime.

Don't try keeping money
or jewelry hidden at home.

Burglars all know where to look.

Record the serial numbers
of your valuable possessions.

Now, if we can't
identify a stolen article,

we can't return it to you.

When you go on vacation,
cancel your newspapers.

Ask the post office
to hold your mail.

Magazines piled on your doorstep

tell a thief nobody's home.

Now, you know your
neighborhood. Keep an eye on it.

A stranger taking a short cut
through the backyard next door

might have broken into
your neighbor's home.

Report him.

A strange car parked illegally

might be loaded with stolen
goods waiting to make a getaway.

Report it.

That loud fight next door

might be the start
of a violent crime.

Report it.

If you see a prowler at night,

don't frighten him away
by turning on the light.

Report him.

Remember, by helping
us apprehend a criminal,

you'll make sure that
you are not his next victim.

I guess you can sum
it up in two words.

What's that?

Get involved.

Well, thank you, gentlemen.

Maybe now we'll get
some results around here.

Yes, sir. You will if
you'll work together.

No question, Sergeant.
No question about that.

Thank you.

- Sergeant?
- Yes, sir?

Yesterday you said you'd
conduct security checks

- if you were asked.
- That's right.

I sure don't want
any more burglaries.

I would like you
to check my store.

Better late than never.

Be glad to look
over your place, too.

You guys don't listen
very good, do you?

How is that, ma'am?

I told you, a thief doesn't
stand a chance with me.

3:10 p.m. Bill and I
ran a security check

of Dalton's Clothing
Store as he requested.

- Mr. Dalton?
- That's a new lock.

I just had it put on
there three months ago.

The lock's not much
good, Mr. Dalton,

if the wood it's fastened
to is rotting away.

You really need a new door here,

preferably a metal-covered one,

you know, like
a fire-proof door.

It gives you a
little more security.

Oh, yes, I know that
kind, metal-covered door.

I checked your attic air
vents up there, Mr. Dalton.

You did anything wrong there?

Well, they're pretty good
sized and they're not entry proof.

What do you think I
ought to do about them?

Check with your alarm people.

They either should be modified
or barred, preferably both.

Well, I had no idea
about these things.

I really didn't, Sergeant.

Well, don't feel bad.
Most people don't.

I mean you run a
place most of your life

and you just don't think about getting
burglarized until it happens to you.

I can't tell you how grateful I am to
you people for checking the place over.

It's all right, Mr. Dalton.
It's what we get paid for.

Well, I've written everything
down. Is that about it?

No, sir, not quite.

Oh, we never use
that window anymore.

That's why it's painted out.

A coat of paint wouldn't
discourage a thief, Mr. Dalton.

Now, this window should
have metal bars on it,

outside or inside.

Metal bars on
painted window store.

- Cashmere, aren't they?
- Top of the line.

- Pretty expensive?
- $200 to $300.

- That's each.
- That's right.

Now, this clothing
rack is on wheels

and it could be pulled over
to that back door pretty easily.

And did you notice how the
clothing is hung on the rack?

Nothing wrong
with that, is there?

Well, when you start
hanging merchandise this way,

you'll make it a lot easier
for somebody to haul them off.

Well, how do you mean, Sergeant?

Well, you notice how
\you have all the hooks

on the hangers
facing the same way?

Well, sure. That's to make it easy
to fill the depleted stock out front.

We can grab several at a
time when we want them.

That's what a
burglar thinks, too.

Now, why not reverse every
other hook? Like this, see?

Every other one.
Just reverse it.

Now, if you get on the habit of
racking your hangers like this,

it makes it a great deal more
difficult for someone in a hurry

to grab an armload
and make off with them.

And burglars are
usually in a hurry.

Mr. Dalton, welcome to the club.

Excuse me, gentlemen.
Customer out front.

Yes, sir. Go right ahead.

He is nice dresser,
isn't he, Mr. Dalton.

Nice clothes, I mean.

Eileen says you were right, Joe.

- About what?
- My clothes.

She agrees. Thinks I
ought to get a new suit.

I didn't say anything
about your clothes.

Well, that's what I mean.

- What are you talking about?
- You didn't agree with me.

- How is that?
- You said the clothes I have
were still all right.

5:10 p.m.

We checked in with
Lieutenant Kearney

to report the progress
made during the afternoon.

- You think they'll cooperate?
- All we can do is wait and see.

There was still a few
hold outs like Lisa Ruby

who owns that restaurant.

But will they keep
their eyes open?

Pick up a phone when they
see something suspicious?

Well, Joe said it. We can hope.

We'll find out in time.

They've already
made a lot of plans.

They say they intend
to start a campaign.

They want every
businessman in the area

to join the organization.

Each man will see to it

that his employees
practice crime prevention.

And what are your plans?

Well, we'll check
over their program,

guide their discussions,
demonstrate techniques.

Fine.

They want us to come
to their next meeting.

- They seem to be enthusiastic.
- It all sounds good.

- There's only one problem.
- What's that?

Enthusiasm has a way
of evaporating, doesn't it?

Yes, sir.

Let's hope we can keep
the cork in the bottle.

Monday, October 14th, 2:30 p.m.

We had just spoken
on the department's

crime prevention program

to a meeting of the downtown
businessmen's association.

Our next appointment
was at 4 p.m.

- I think we ought
to take 7, don't you?
- Yeah, we could.

Do you want to call
in? I got an errand to do.

Yeah.

1 Adam 25, a possible
484 suspect there now.

Pete's Delicatessen
4330 Green Street.

Sergeant Friday, two
police officers were just here.

Charlie Dalton described
that guy he had trouble with.

The one who wore
the sailor's pants.

Well, he just walked by.
At least I think it was him.

I saw him from my store. He had
another man with him and a girl.

They were just walking, but you said
if we saw anything suspicious to call in.

Yes, sir. You did right.
Where did they go?

Into Ruby's Bar. That's where
we sent the two policemen.

- Hey!
- All right.

Police officer, lady.
Just settle down.

All right, break it up!
Break it up! That's enough.

This way.

Well, Officer Gannon.

Nice of you to come.

And Sergeant Friday,
it's good to see you, too.

But as I was just
telling those officers,

my bartender could
have stopped the fight.

It wasn't much to begin with.
More like a wrestling match.

- There was nothing to it.
- That's all they needed.

What do you mean?

While that phony
fight was going on,

this little lady was
busy tapping your till.

You mean while we
were busy with the fight...

That girl is in
with him, is she?

A setup. We call it a diversion.

Sergeant Friday, I don't
know how to thank you.

I guess my luck
was running good.

No, ma'am. It wasn't
your good luck at all.

It wasn't?

It was your good neighbors.

Book it.

Sergeant Friday,

I may be stubborn but
I'm not so pigheaded

I won't admit when I was wrong.

From now on nothing
happens in this neighborhood

- that I don't know about.
- Yes, ma'am.

Did you ever check us out for 7?

No, I thought I'd
phone from here.

Okay, I'll be back in a minute.

7? What does that mean?

That's our radio call for lunch.

You mean you boys haven't
eaten yet? It's almost 3:00.

Yes, ma'am.

Well, you make
your telephone call

and as soon as Gannon gets back,

you sit down and order
anything you want on the house.

Well, thanks just the same,

but we're not allowed
to accept gratuities.

It's just my way
of saying thanks.

It's not necessary.
It's just part of our job.

All right, we'll do it this way.

Yes, ma'am.

No law against the size

of the helpings I give you.

I didn't keep you waiting.

No, no. I haven't even ordered.

I had to pick up a little
something at Dalton's.

It only cost 750.

You bought a vest.

I didn't need a suit after all,

just something to
give my wardrobe a lift.

This little item will pep
up everything I own.

It will do that.

You ought to get one, Joe.

It will do a lot for
the way you look.

- Is that right?
- Didn't anyone ever tell you?

No. What's that?

Your clothes,

they are a little
on the dull side.

The suspects plead guilty
to 484 PC, till tapping.

Because of prior convictions,

they were all sentenced
to serve terms of

from one to five years
in the state prison.