Ep 7. The Hammer

The Hammer is the seventh episode of the first season of the television series Dragnet which aired in 1967. The episode follows Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner, Officer Bill Gannon, as they tackle a seemingly simple case involving a stolen claw hammer. However, as they start poking around, the detectives soon realize that there's much more to this case than meets the eye.

The episode starts with a woman named Helen informing the police that her husband's claw hammer has been stolen from her home. Sergeant Friday and Officer Gannon arrive on the scene and start their investigation. At first, the case seems straightforward, but as they begin to follow up on leads, they realize that there are many layers to the incident. They learn that the hammer was last seen at a pawn shop, where it was sold by someone who claimed to be Helen's husband.

The detectives go to question the man who sold the hammer, and he tells them he bought it from an unknown man. From there, they follow a series of leads that take them from a local dive bar to a home where they find several other stolen items, including the tools of a local architect, a stolen television set, and even a fishing boat.

As they dive deeper into the case, Friday and Gannon start to suspect that the person behind the thefts is a shady character named Eddie. Through their ongoing investigation, they realize that Eddie is a well-known criminal and that he has a network of accomplices who help him carry out his crimes. The detectives begin to piece together a plan to catch Eddie in the act, but they soon realize that their plan may be in danger when Eddie gets wise to their tactics.

As the case reaches its climax, the detectives find themselves in a dangerous situation as they try to apprehend the well-known criminal. The suspense builds as Eddie and Friday engage in a tense showdown that will have viewers on the edge of their seat until the very end.

Overall, The Hammer is a thrilling episode of Dragnet that is sure to keep viewers guessing until the final moments. With its intricate storytelling and suspenseful plot, this episode showcases why Dragnet was such a beloved series during the late 1960s. Fans of classic police dramas and crime thrillers are sure to enjoy this episode and the entire series.