Grand Theft

Originally Aired: April 5, 1954 Suspense #546, "Grand Theft," starring David Niven, presents the story of Mr. Bentley, a smooth-talking insurance appraiser who has discovered a lucrative side business. While legitimately evaluating homes and possessions for insurance companies, Bentley steals items like jewelry and resells them for profit. When wealthy Mrs. Payne innocently shows him her expensive platinum bracelet during a dinner, it soon finds its way to a New York pawn shop for $1,500. But Bentley isn't satisfied with such small scores and sets his sights on a much bigger scheme. Bentley's next target involves Maude Mullen and her elderly grandmother, Mrs. Mullen. He coaches the old woman, who has never told a lie in her life, to falsely claim that valuable family jewelry was stolen from Maude. When insurance adjuster Mr. Coombs arrives to investigate the claim, the tension mounts as Bentley must maintain his elaborate deception. The episode explores how far this ambitious criminal will go to enrich himself, even manipulating an innocent grandmother's honesty for his own financial gain.