The Costain Matter: Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar (June 2, 1953)

“The Costain Matter” is an episode of Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar, the old-time radio show, first broadcast June 2, 1953. Listen free on Stupid Potato.

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What happens

Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is called to Toledo to look into a series of shoplifting claims totaling thousands of dollars. Working with Lieutenant Sturgis and Sergeant Bightler, Johnny discovers the thefts aren't random—all stolen items are women's clothing in size 10, restricted to specific colors, and purchased only in small, specialized sizes. The police believe they're hunting a red-headed woman with green eyes who is systematically building a complete wardrobe at the insurance companies' expense.

Toledo, Ohio; police station and various retail shops including dress shops, department stores, and cosmetic stores

Characters: Johnny Dollar, Shelley Thomas, Lieutenant Sturgis, Sergeant Bightler, Sergeant Kelly, Mrs. Bankroft

Listen for: The clever deduction that connects seemingly random thefts into a pattern revealing the thief's physical appearance and personal characteristics.

Written from the episode itself; it never gives away the ending. Every recording is remastered for the stream: cleaned of rumble, hiss and mains hum (and the old TV whine where we found it), then levelled in two passes to steady broadcast loudness, so one show is never quieter than the next.