The Big Paper

Originally Aired: August 21, 1952

Dragnet #165, "The Big Paper," Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner Frank Smith are called to forgery detail when small neighborhood merchants fall victim to a check forger using an old but effective scheme. Martin Miller, owner of Marty's Mart at Sixth and Benson, arrives at the station after being sent by his banker, Mr. Alms. Miller explains that someone has been forging checks from his business account under the name Roger Theodore. While the bank initially discovered seven forged checks all passed on the same Saturday night, Miller and his wife Emma conduct their own investigation and discover the thief actually stole fourteen checks from the back of their checkbook, which they keep under the counter with the size twelve paper bags.

Friday and Smith begin piecing together how the theft occurred. Miller can't recall any suspicious strangers in his store, but admits that he and Emma sometimes leave the counter unattended when they duck into the back for lunch. The detectives realize the checks must have been stolen within the past couple weeks, around the time the Millers received their new checkbook. As Friday sends Miller to give a full statement to the stenographer, the investigation into this methodical check forger begins.