Virginia Rangle

Virginia Rangle (born 1933) was a redheaded stripper who danced under the name of Linda Doll. She became obsessed with actor Broderick Crawford. On October 17, 1959, she was arrested for sending a moving van to remove $25,000 in personal property from the Bel Air, California home of the Academy Award winning actor.

Crawford resided in a large seven room colonial house located at 950 Chantilly Road. It had been rented furnished. Crawford, the star of Highway Patrol (TV series), was away from home, in London, England.

Rangle claimed to have a Screen Actors Guild card in the name of Virginia Broderick. She claimed the card had been secured for her through Crawford's assistance. Rangle identified herself to the moving company as Mrs. Crawford. She was jailed together with musician Andre S. Brummer, who assisted her in the crime. Rangle rented a trailer, and with Brummer's help, she carried the majority of Crawford's household belongings to a house she rented for twenty-four hours at 6306 Elmer Avenue, in North Hollywood.

While there Rangle sold eight of Crawford's antique furniture pieces to an auctioneer for $3,000. Then she rented a trailer, and relied on Brummer to assist her, in moving the rest of the stolen property to her mother's home at 6059 St. Clair Ave., in North Hollywood. Other stolen goods included Crawford's clothes, guns, a TV set, typewriter, wall hangings, and other decor. Altogether, the larceny amounted to $25,000 in valuables.

The Los Angeles Police Department was notified by the home's owner, Karen Alkus, and Crawford's father. The two came to the residence and discovered it empty aside from a kitchen stove. Rangle and Brummer were arrested at Brummer's home at 6045 Whitsett Avenue, Van Nuys, California. Rangle and Brummer were released later in the day on October 17, on a writ of habeas corpus, returnable on October 18, before Los Angeles Superior Court judge Lewis Drucker.

Rangle said she was dating Crawford, who she said gave her the name Linda Doll. Crawford was divorced a year prior to the theft. Rangle claimed to have a key to the home which Crawford had given her. She said that she was just trying to help Crawford out by storing the property. According to Rangle, Crawford's lease was soon to expire. She told authorities that when Crawford returned from England, he'll square this beef.