Dragnet – Big Break. ep79, 501214

Robbery Detail. After tracking a hold up man for months, the cops are ready to make their move.

On a cold night in Los Angeles, the night watch get ready to take down the well armed, fortified George Hoffman. The desperate criminal isn’t afraid to make a standoff, rather than be taken to jail again. The shoot out runs its course and yet another criminal is taken into custody.

In voiceover, Joe Friday reviews the booking, and preparations for the preliminary hearing. Also the mundane event of a fellow cop, who got a black eye from coaching boxing. Just when it looks to be another routine day, word comes that Hoffman has broken out of jail, and is on the rampage again.

The cops discuss the intent to break out from the day Hoffman was taken, and the exercises he did to strengthen his hands. Despite his spree of crime, none of George’s usual contacts, or haunts has any word of where he is located. An interview with toy train enthusiast, Roy Townsend, might offer their first clue.

A stakeout is set up, where Ben and Joe make small talk about those toy trains, but months would go by, as Joe later shares in voiceover. Through a weird twist of fate, Hoffman goes straight, joins the Army, and goes overseas…. Or does he? Hoffman has a knack for robbing, and escaping, but Joe may have proved that Hoffman has met his match. Has Hoffman escaped for the last time?