Get this and get it straight. Crime is a suckers road and those who travel it wind up in the gut of the prison of the grave.

The story you are about to hear is true, only the names have been changed to protect the innocent.

The Adventures of Sam Spade Detective.

The Adventures of the Saints starring Vincent Prize.

Bob Bailey in the exciting adventures of the man with the action-packed expense account.

America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator.

Yours truly, Johnny Deller. And the Hello and welcome to down these mean streets where this week we're headed to the

city Los Angeles, California where we'll ride along with Sergeant Joe Friday in Dragnet.

The game-changing police procedural made its radio debut 70 years ago this week, on June 3rd 1949. It helped to usher in a new

style of crime drama. One focused on the meticulous processes of police officers instead of glamorizing the criminals.

And it made writer, producer, and star Jack Webb a household name. Dragnet ran on radio for nearly a decade.

It spawned multiple TV shows and two feature films

and it carved out a unique place in pop culture with hundreds of homages, references, and spoofs over the years.

Any sign of the burglary yet?

Joe Joe. How's that?

It's his job. How's that? He's a burglar.

This is a burglar.

This week we're celebrating dragnet's anniversary with four stories pulled from the files of the Los Angeles Police Department

beginning with the earliest surviving episode from June 10th, 1949.

Now a few things immediately jump out.

This early show doesn't

quite settle into their trademark delivery.

...