The Big Set-Up

Originally Aired: July 12, 1951 Dragnet #109, "The Big Set-Up," Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner Ben Romero face mounting pressure as a sophisticated burglary ring continues to terrorize wealthy Los Angeles homeowners. In just three months, the gang has stolen over $100,000 in furs and jewelry from fashionable residences, and despite working every angle—stakeouts, informants, and stolen property alerts—the detectives have virtually nothing to show for their efforts. The latest hit netted the thieves nearly $12,000, and Captain Wisdom makes it clear that city hall, the victims, and their insurance companies are demanding results. The three masked thieves leave behind the same modus operandi at every scene but remain frustratingly unidentifiable. Over coffee at city hall, Friday and Romero present their boss with a breakthrough theory. After carefully comparing victim statements, they've discovered a pattern: every victim appeared at upscale public venues wearing expensive furs and jewelry just days before being burglarized. The detectives believe a finger man is staking out these restaurants and nightclubs, identifying wealthy marks and tipping off the gang about when to strike. With a list of six establishments in hand, Friday and Romero prepare to set their trap for the elusive criminals.