It’s late and the Pratts are both in bed. Wilbur is sound asleep and his wife, Maude, is listening to the radio on a headset.

Before turning off the radio, Maude gets up to go to the bathroom. As she passes the back widow she thinks she sees a flash of light in the shed out in the back yard.

When she sees a second light, Maude shakes Wilbur and tells him to wake up. "There’s somebody out in the tool shed," she says in a loud whisper. "There are lights flashing around."

Wilbur crawls out of bed and goes to the window. Sure enough, there are flashes of light out in the shed. Somebody is out there, attempting to steal Wilbur’s tools.

Wilbur picks up the telephone and speed-dials the police.

"Dispatch, what’s the nature of your emergency?"

"There are at least two people robbing my tool shed," Wilbur says excitedly. "Send an officer out here at once."

The police dispatcher responds: "Sir, all of our officers are out on other complaints at this time-no one is available and it may be a little while before we can send an officer."

Wilbur hangs up. He’s furious. "They’re stealing my stuff," Wilbur whispers to Maude, "and the cops are too busy." Then Wilbur gets an idea. He calls the police back.

"Police," says Wilbur, "no need to hurry, everything’s under control now. I just shot the burglars. They’re not going anywhere." Then Wilbur hangs up.

Maybe it takes three minutes, but suddenly three patrol cars roll up at the Pratt residence. Police spotlights light up the property as cops with guns drawn cautiously approach the shed in the back yard.

Within minutes, the two burglars are cuffed and put in the back of separate patrol cars. The trunk of the crooks’ car, parked on the street behind Wilbur’s house, is loaded with Wilbur’s tools.

Later, the shift sergeant approaches Wilbur. "I thought you said you shot those guys?"

Wilbur responds, "I thought you said there were no cops available."