Ep 22. The Great Filling Station Robbery

In The Andy Griffith Show season 3 episode 22, entitled "The Great Filling Station Robbery," viewers are taken on a wild ride as the small town of Mayberry experiences a major crime wave. When a local gas station is robbed, Sheriff Andy Taylor (played by the show's namesake, Andy Griffith) and Deputy Barney Fife (Don Knotts) launch a full-scale investigation to catch the culprits responsible for the crime.

The episode starts off with Andy and Barney trying to solve a minor mystery surrounding a missing traffic light bulb. However, their attention is quickly diverted when they receive a call about a robbery at Wally's Filling Station. Upon their arrival, they discover that the criminals have stolen a safe containing more than $300.

Andy immediately begins the investigation by interviewing the witness who reported the crime. However, the witness is not able to provide a detailed description of the robbers as they were wearing masks. Andy then enlists the help of Mayberry's resident "fix-it" man, Gomer Pyle (Jim Nabors) to search for any clues at the scene of the crime.

As the investigation progresses, Andy and Barney begin to suspect that a notorious criminal, "Gentleman Dan Caldwell," may be behind the robbery. They gather intel from town locals and discover that Caldwell has a history of gas station robberies in other nearby states. However, when a witness mistakenly identifies another man as the robber, Andy and Barney are forced to follow a different lead.

Throughout the episode, viewers are treated to scenes of classic humor, including Barney's constant fumbling and bumbling, as well as Gomer's andy eccentricities. However, the episode also has its fair share of serious moments, as the residents of Mayberry begin to take extra precautions to avoid becoming victims of the crime wave.

As the investigation continues, Andy and Barney are thrown a curveball when they discover that the robbers may not be Caldwell and his associates after all. Instead, they begin to suspect that the robbery may have been an inside job, with one of Wally's employees being the mastermind behind the crime.

The episode culminates in a thrilling chase scene as Andy and Barney pursue the suspects in their squad car. In a nail-biting finale, they successfully corner the robbers and bring them to justice.

Overall, "The Great Filling Station Robbery" is a standout episode in The Andy Griffith Show's third season. It blends classic humor with a thrilling crime storyline, all while showcasing the incredible talents of the show's talented cast. Fans of the show are sure to love this episode, as it encapsulates everything that made The Andy Griffith Show such a beloved classic.