You're a Detective Sergeant. You're assigned to robbery detail.
Several women have fallen victim to purse snatching.
Your job; find the crooks.
It was hot in Los Angeles. The temperature was supposed to climb well into the nineties. I checked into robbery and found my partner there. My names Joe Friday, my partner is Frank Smith.
"Morning, Joe. Whew, sure gonna be a hot one today."
"Hi, Frank. Anything on the hot sheet?"
"Just another purse snatching. Makes the eighth one this week and it's only Tuesday."
"Yeah. Same MO?"
"Yup. Woman is walking down the street and some young man grabs her purse as he runs passed. Knocked her down just like all the others."
"Got an address?"
"Yeah, someplace out in Bel Air. She says to stop over anytime. She'll be home."
"Guess we'd better roll before it gets any hotter."
While Frank checked out a car I signed us out. Since LAPD was on a tight budget the car lacked air conditioning. An hour and a half later we pulled up a long driveway lined with trees. Set well back from the street we saw the large house.
"Looks like Miss Peterson has money." Frank whistled before speaking.
I rang the bell and we waited. The door opened and a pretty young woman greeted us.
"Are you the police?" Her voice was soft and very seductive.
"Yes Ma'am. My name's Friday and this is my partner Frank Smith."
"Nice to meet you both. It's rather warm outside. Won't you come in and cool off?"
"Thank you Ma'am."
It was cool in the house as Miss Peterson led us into the sitting room. She indicated to sofa and Frank and I sat while she sat in a large arm chair across from us. As she crossed her legs much of her already short skirt moved up exposing more of her very nice thighs.
"Are you here about my robbery?"
"Burgled Ma'am."
"I beg your pardon?"
"Stores are robbed, people are burgled." Frank hid his sigh as he explained the difference.
"Oh, I see. Well then are you gentlemen here about my being burgled?"
"Yes Ma'am. Now is everything you said in your statement correct?" I had to make sure she had told us the complete story.
"Yes. I was walking down Santa Monica about two yesterday afternoon when suddenly a young man ran passed me grabbing my purse."
"And he knocked you down?" As I asked questions Frank took notes.
"Yes he did. He didn't have to get rough. I would have given it to him if he had only stopped me."
"You'd have given it to him Ma'am?"
"Well of course. I never carry more than a couple of hundred in cash and certainly that wouldn't be something for me to fuss about."
"Do you always carry that much cash?"
Miss Peterson shifted and crossed her legs again but not before her skirt rode up higher. This time most of her bare legs were exposed and there had been a flash of panty. She seemed indignant, sat up straighter. Both Frank and I could see her large breasts filling her blouse as they stretched out the material.
"Of course. I don't like credit cards, you see."
"OK, Miss Peterson. Now when he knocked you down were you hurt in anyway?"
"A little when my arm hit the sidewalk. It was when his body struck mine that I really felt hurt." Suddenly a smile plied across her sensual face.
"Oh? I didn't see anything in your report indicating any other injuries."
"I didn't want to say anything to the woman police officer taking my statement."
"And why was that Ma'am?"
"She seemed just a little to interested, if you know what I mean."