Dragnet - The Big Press

Detective Sergeants Joe Friday and Ben Romero were working the night watch out of Robbery Detail. They were sitting in their car at the Sunset Drive-In restaurant when they received the call. The dispatcher says "All units in the vicinity of 1016 North McCadden Street, 484 PS (theft or larceny) and Code 3 (emergency response with lights and sirens). For more than a month, lone women throughout the western section of the city have been robbed and beaten. The descriptions were confused and varied because the attacks took place at night. At 10:06 PM, Friday and Romero arrived at the North McCadden location where the woman was lying on the sidewalk. She had been badly beaten about the face and neck and her jaw had been broken. Officers Reed and Shell of Unit 61F were already there. Romero asks "Are there any witnesses, officer?" Reed says "Yeah, this man in the sweater here, Mr. Conn, saw it happen. He says the victim's name is Mrs. Swanson". Friday says "Hello Mr. Conn. This is Sergeant Romero. My name's Friday. I wonder if we could talk to you, please?" Conn says "Yes, certainly. Do you want to come into the house?" Romero says "Right over here will be all right". Friday says "That officer there says that you saw it happen". Conn says "That's right. I was watching television, when I heard this scream outside. I looked out and saw these two men beating her up". Romero asks "Can you describe them?" Conn says "The light wasn't real good. They're about as tall as you two, but they had slighter builds". Friday asks "How old were they? Could you see that?" Conn says "I'd say they were young, maybe 18 or 19. I saw them knock her down. It was terrible. They hit her and then they kicked her. They picked up her purse and ran down that way". Romero asks "And you called the police?" Conn says "Yes, but not right away. I ran out and saw them get in the car across the street. They drove right past me. Then they turned east there on Romaine Street". Romero asks "Can you describe the car for us?" Conn says "I got the license number for you. The last three numbers were 552". Friday says "Just three numbers?" Conn says "Yes. California license plate. Do you think you'll catch them tonight?" Friday says "Do you know how many license plates end in 552?"