A thief named Wally steals expensive automobiles, then has one of his two female accomplices (Ann and Norma) forge registration certificates and sell the cars upstate in well-to-do suburbs before their status as stolen cars is widely known. Dan Mathews finds out about the scheme when Officer Dorsey brings in a car theft suspect named Joe Ramo. When Ramo actually turns out to be a victim, Dan and Officer Dorsey check out "cars for sale" ads in higher-income areas upstate. Posing as "Mr. Daniels", Dan answers an ad placed by Ann and is offered a near-new luxury sedan for $3,900. When her background story proves false, Dan and Officer Dorsey enlist the aid of the Lakewood National Bank to set a trap for the three thieves.
Haldor Mattern believes he is a famous concert violinist and is capable of being urbane and refined one moment and homicidal the next. When he escapes from Riverhead Hospital, Dan Mathews and his officers set up roadblocks and pursue all leads. Unsuspecting James Wilson offers Mattern a ride and is subsequently murdered. Mattern assumes Wilson's identity and gives a ride to occasional concert pianist Eileen Haley. When Wilson's body is found, Dan is able to surmise the direction in which Mattern is traveling. Mattern becomes highly upset when Eileen Haley looks at his hands and asks about the extent of his musical background. He stops the car abruptly and starts to slowly strangle her. Dan arrives in time to discern what is happening in the parked car and must use guile to try to prevent Mattern from committing a second murder.
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