When a highway patrol officer suddenly vanishes during his early morning shift, Sergeant Joe Friday and Ben Romero join forces with the Sheriff's Department and the State Highway Patrol to uncover what happened. The abandoned squad car, the trail of fresh black paint, and a suspiciously repainted Plymouth sedan point toward a dangerous fugitive on the run. As the investigation stretches from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, the hunt closes in on a desperate killer willing to shoot his way out of trouble. Originally aired: August 24, 1950. 

Cast:
Jack Webb, Barton Yarborough, Harry Bartell, Stacy Harris, Herb Vigran, Raymond Burr

Tags:
Dragnet, LAPD, detectives, truecrime, 1950s, noir, crime, investigation, manhunt, murder, highwaypatrol, fugitive, LasVegas, police, suspense, drama, thriller, justice, stolen car, classicradio

A young lawyer’s office is found drenched in green paint—law books ruined, furniture destroyed, and no clear motive. Sergeant Joe Friday and Ben Romero follow the trail through neighborhood schools, pranks, and burned palm trees, eventually uncovering a troubled teenage boy with a dangerous compulsion for lies and destruction. The investigation leads to a stark lesson in parental neglect and emotional damage. Originally aired: August 17, 1950. 

Cast:
Jack Webb, Barton Yarborough, Herb Butterfield, Victor Perrin, Harry Bartell, Parley Baer

Tags:
Dragnet, LAPD, detectives, truecrime, 1950s, noir, crime, juvenile, investigation, vandalism, youthcrime, parentalneglect, suspense, drama, psychology, justice, police, courtroom, classicradio

When $10,000 in hospital narcotics vanishes and an intern is left unconscious, Sergeant Joe Friday and Ben Romero launch a citywide manhunt for the thieves. The trail leads to a desperate addict and, ultimately, to a small-time Hollywood actor chasing fame—an ambitious man willing to risk everything for fast money and a shot at the spotlight. Originally aired: August 10, 1950. 

Cast:
Jack Webb, Barton Yarborough, Herb Vigran, Harry Bartell, Stacy Harris, Virginia Gregg

Tags:
Dragnet, LAPD, detectives, truecrime, 1950s, noir, crime, narcotics, investigation, hospital, robbery, Hollywood, actor, suspense, drama, manhunt, justice, police, thriller, addiction, classicradio

Description:
When a young boy returns home from a late movie, he discovers his mother brutally murdered. With a savage knife attack, no signs of forced entry, and a neighborhood that swears they heard nothing, Sergeant Joe Friday and Ben Romero soon uncover a disturbing trail of jealousy, obsession, and emotional collapse. Their only solid clue: fingerprints on the murder weapon—and a mysterious man known only as Floyd. Originally aired: August 3, 1950. 

Cast:
Jack Webb, Barton Yarborough, Herbert Butterfield, Virginia Gregg, Herb Vigran, Harry Bartell

Tags:
Dragnet, LAPD, detectives, truecrime, 1950s, noir, crime, investigation, murder, homicide, jealousy, manhunt, suspense, drama, police, justice, thriller, psycho, fingerprint, classicradio

After four months on the run, the “Gentleman Bandit” Frank Chaney resurfaces—ruthless as ever. When a daring daylight bank robbery leaves another victim injured, Sergeant Joe Friday and Ben Romero race against time to hunt him down before he kills again. Following a desperate trail through Los Angeles and down to the docks of San Pedro, the chase ends in a deadly confrontation aboard a ship carrying high explosives. Originally aired: July 27, 1950.

Cast:
Jack Webb, Barton Yarborough, Stacy Harris, Parley Baer, Raymond Burr, Herb Vigran

Tags:
Dragnet, LAPD, detectives, truecrime, 1950s, noir, crime, manhunt, fugitive, investigation, murder, robbery, SanPedro, thriller, justice, police, suspense, drama, GentlemanBandit, capture, classicradio

When a finance company robbery leaves a bystander dead and a police officer critically wounded, Sergeant Joe Friday and Ben Romero are called to help San Diego authorities track down the ruthless killers. The investigation leads them to an ex-con known as the “Gentleman Bandit,” Frank Chaney—recently paroled after 18 years behind bars. As the detectives follow a trail of old partnerships and new crimes, they uncover a network of ex-cons willing to kill to stay free. Originally aired: July 20, 1950.

Cast:
Jack Webb, Barton Yarborough, Stacy Harris, Parley Baer, Raymond Burr, Herb Vigran

Tags:
Dragnet, LAPD, detectives, truecrime, 1950s, noir, crime, investigation, manhunt, robbery, murder, SanDiego, excon, fugitive, GentlemanBandit, suspense, drama, justice, police, thriller, classicradio

A desperate man holds Los Angeles City Hall hostage with a homemade bomb, demanding his brother’s release from jail. Sergeant Joe Friday and Ben Romero have less than an hour to defuse the situation—literally. As tension mounts and the clock ticks toward disaster, the detectives must outthink a man with nothing left to lose. Originally aired: July 13, 1950.

Cast:
Jack Webb, Barton Yarborough, Raymond Burr, Herb Vigran, Stacy Harris, Parley Baer

Tags:
Dragnet, LAPD, detectives, truecrime, 1950s, noir, crime, hostage, bomb, standoff, thriller, suspense, LosAngeles, police, investigation, drama, criminal, justice, explosion, cityhall, classicradio

A notorious criminal escapes justice—and Sergeant Joe Friday and Ben Romero are back on the hunt. When an informant turns up murdered, the trail points toward a violent holdup man named George Barlow. With leads going cold and pressure mounting, the detectives navigate a maze of false names, barroom brawls, and ruthless accomplices to bring a dangerous man to justice. Originally aired: March 16, 1950.

Cast:

Jack Webb, Barton Yarborough, Raymond Burr, Herb Vigran, Joyce McCluskey

Tags:

Dragnet, LAPD, detectives, truecrime, 1950s, noir, crime, investigation, manhunt, robbery, criminal, informant, escape, coldcase, justice, suspense, drama, GeorgeBarlow

After seven months, a paroled murderess, Annie Marie Johnson, loses contact with the parole office. When her parole officer becomes suspicious and enlists the help of the police, they investigate her living arrangements with a couple who are supposedly sick and residing in sanitariums. As the investigation unfolds, it becomes clear that Annie has forged signatures and may be involved in a possible murder plot. A search of the house eventually leads to a shocking discovery and Annie's arrest, trial, and conviction for murder in the first degree.

A police officer is shot and killed, leading Sergeant Joe Friday to investigate the case. As they pursue a suspect, Jake Carver, who is recently out of Folsom Penitentiary, the detectives set up a plan to gather evidence against him. Carver is suspected in a series of crimes, including the shooting of a drugstore owner in San Pedro. With clever tactics, they lure information out of Carver, leading to the discovery of crucial evidence that incriminates him. Carver is brought to trial, convicted of first-degree murder, and sentenced to life in prison without parole.