The Burglar (1957) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Harbin sends Gladden to Atlantic City after Dohmer lusts after her and the tension in the hideout escalates. Harbin wants to protect her from Dohmer's advances and keep her safe until the heat from the robbery dies down. However, this decision puts Gladden in danger when Charlie and Della track her there, as they plan to use her as leverage to get the necklace.

Foreshadowing: The earlier argument between Dohmer and Gladden at the hideout planted the seeds for this separation.

• gladden
• atlantic city
• dohmer
• harbin
• protection

Charlie is the police officer who questioned Harbin after the burglary and arranged for the artist's sketch of the suspect. Unbeknownst to Harbin, Charlie is secretly working with Della to steal the necklace for themselves. Charlie follows Harbin to Atlantic City, kills Baylock, and ultimately tries to cut Della out of the deal, revealing his dual betrayal of both the criminals and his police colleague.

Foreshadowing: Charlie was the officer who spoke with Harbin and helped create the sketch, giving him inside knowledge of the investigation.

• charlie
• police officer
• della
• betrayal
• necklace

Dohmer shoots the police officer when their car is stopped at a routine traffic checkpoint near Atlantic City. The toll booth operator had recognized Harbin from the police sketch and alerted authorities, so the officers were expecting them. Dohmer panics during the confrontation and opens fire, killing the officer. This act turns a routine stop into a murder scene and forces Harbin and Baylock to abandon the car and flee on foot.

Foreshadowing: The toll booth operator's recognition of Harbin from the sketch triggered the confrontation.

• dohmer
• police officer
• shooting
• traffic stop
• arrest

Harbin hides the necklace in Gladden's Atlantic City hotel room during a quarrel with her. Later, when Harbin returns to the hideout shack, Gladden retrieves the jewels and transfers them to her musical jewel box for safekeeping. This hidden location becomes crucial as multiple parties search for the necklace throughout the climax.

Foreshadowing: The musical jewel box was introduced earlier as Gladden's personal possession.

• necklace
• hidden
• jewel box
• gladden
• safekeeping

Della is romantically involved with Charlie, the corrupt police officer. When Harbin meets Della in Philadelphia, she appears to help him, but she's actually working with Charlie to steal the necklace from Harbin and his crew. Della lures Harbin to her apartment to gather information, then disappears to coordinate with Charlie. Their plan is to take the necklace for themselves and cut Harbin out completely.

Foreshadowing: Della's disappearance from her apartment while Harbin slept revealed her true allegiance.

• della
• charlie
• betrayal
• necklace
• police corruption

The police sketch is created by an artist after Charlie, who questioned Harbin at the scene, arranges for a composite drawing of the suspected robber. When Harbin drives toward Atlantic City, a toll booth operator recognizes him from this sketch and alerts the authorities. This tip triggers the traffic stop that ends in the shootout with Dohmer and ultimately forces Harbin into the desperate final confrontation.

Foreshadowing: Charlie was the officer who directly questioned Harbin, giving him the details needed for the sketch.

• police sketch
• toll booth
• capture
• charlie
• identification

At Atlantic City's Steel Pier, Harbin arranges a meeting with Charlie, offering the necklace in exchange for Gladden's safe release. When Gladden leaves, Charlie shoots Harbin and prepares to flee with the jewelry. The police arrive and arrest Charlie, but Della arrives furious that Charlie is cutting her out of the deal. When Charlie lunges at Della, the head detective punches him and discovers the necklace in his pocket, securing his arrest.

Foreshadowing: The musical jewel box Gladden carried played its tune when she dropped it, helping Charlie track them to the Steel Pier.

• steel pier
• charlie
• confrontation
• necklace
• arrest

Harbin offers Charlie the necklace in exchange for Gladden's life because his primary motivation throughout the film has been protecting Gladden, the daughter of his mentor. Despite being a criminal, Harbin cares for her deeply and views her as his responsibility. He sacrifices the valuable necklace, which represents the entire point of the heist, to ensure her survival, showing that his paternal bond with Gladden matters more than the loot.

Foreshadowing: The protective relationship between Harbin and Gladden was established from the moment he recruited her for the job.

• harbin
• gladden
• necklace
• sacrifice
• protection

Charlie kills Baylock in the deserted shack because Baylock is in the way of Charlie's plan to take the necklace for himself. Charlie poses as backup from a corrupt colleague but is actually there to steal the jewels. After killing Baylock, Charlie tries to coerce Harbin into giving up the necklace's location by offering to spare his life and share the money.

Foreshadowing: Charlie's arrival at the shack was suspicious, he claimed to be a colleague but acted alone.

• charlie
• baylock
• murder
• shack
• necklace

Gladden is the daughter of Harbin's mentor, making their relationship almost paternal. Harbin acts as her guardian and treats her as family, not just a partner in crime. This protective instinct drives many of his decisions, including sending her away to keep her safe and ultimately sacrificing the necklace to save her life. Their bond adds emotional stakes to the otherwise straightforward heist plot.

Foreshadowing: Harbin reveals details about their shared past to Baylock, explaining the depth of his commitment to her.

• gladden
• harbin
• mentor
• daughter
• protection

Della finds Gladden because Charlie has been trailing Gladden ever since she left Philadelphia. The same man Della was with in Philadelphia, the one who followed Gladden from the train, maintains surveillance on her hotel room. This allows Charlie and Della to locate Gladden and use her as leverage against Harbin to retrieve the necklace.

Foreshadowing: The man who followed Della was revealed to be the same person shadowing Gladden, linking the two women.

• della
• gladden
• atlantic city
• surveillance
• tracking

After Dohmer shoots the police officer during the traffic stop, the officer fires back and kills Dohmer in the exchange. His body is left in the abandoned car when Harbin and Baylock flee on foot toward the deserted shack. Dohmer's death marks the first major casualty among the crew and accelerates the story's descent into violence and desperation.

Foreshadowing: Dohmer's earlier aggression toward Gladden foreshadowed his volatile, reckless behavior.

• dohmer
• police officer
• shooting
• death
• escape