Ep 20. The Big Youngster

The Big Youngster is one of the most exciting and thrilling episodes of the classic TV series, Dragnet season 3. In this episode, the LAPD detectives, Joe Friday (Jack Webb) and Frank Smith (Ben Alexander), are assigned to investigate a property theft case in which two teenagers are involved.

The episode begins with a young couple being robbed of their jewelry in their own home by two teens. One of the suspects is a seventeen-year-old boy named Pete Alex. The suspects are quickly apprehended and brought to the police station, where they are questioned by Friday and Smith.

During the interrogations, Friday and Smith learn that the young boy is not a common criminal. He comes from a good family and is well-educated, but he has fallen in with a bad crowd. During his questioning, he explains how he got involved in stealing from homes and buildings, and how it was a game that he and his friends played regularly.

Despite the teenager's seemingly harmless explanation of his crimes, the detectives realize that there is more to the story and begin to dig deeper into the case. They question his friends and family, but they all seem to have different stories and don't provide much useful information.

Friday and Smith also speak to some members of the local community, including a high school teacher who has been keeping an eye on Pete. She explains that he is a smart boy, but has been acting out in recent months. This information helps the detectives piece together the bigger picture of what's going on with the teenager.

As the investigation continues, Friday and Smith uncover a larger criminal operation that is manipulating and exploiting teenagers like Pete. They discover that these young people are being used as pawns in a dangerous game, in which they steal valuable items and then trade them for drugs.

The detectives ultimately realize that they need to find the mastermind behind the operation, who is pulling the strings and using these young people for his own gain. Their breakthrough comes when they discover a secret hideout where the stolen goods are kept. They work to track down the people running the hideout, and ultimately successfully bring the entire organization down.

Throughout The Big Youngster, Friday and Smith demonstrate their investigative skills and dogged determination to get to the bottom of the case. They work to untangle a complex web of criminal activity and ultimately bring the perpetrators to justice. Along the way, viewers see a side of the detectives' personal lives, as we learn about their own families and how they balance their demanding jobs.

The episode is a classic example of the kind of gripping and suspenseful stories that made Dragnet a beloved show for generations of viewers. It's a thought-provoking exploration of the criminal underworld, teenage delinquency, and the lengths that law enforcement will go to protect their community. With its engaging plot and memorable characters, The Big Youngster is an episode that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats from beginning to end.