Gang Busters was an American dramatic radio program heralded as "the only national program that brings you authentic police case histories." Sponsored by Chevrolet, the show was produced by Phillips H. Lord who was already in radio, but was looking for a new show concept. The show premiered over the NBC radio network on July 20, 1935 under the original title G-Men.

Lord had the idea of making a crime show like the gangster films of the early 1930s, but instead, wanted to make the stories based on the real thing – about real criminals, cops and the FBI. The shows would be a cross between newspaper stories and the movies…what a concept! He went right to Washington, where he received the tacit approval of J. Edgar Hoover himself to develop a show that used only closed cases (thus ensuring a positive outcome) and had a solid law-enforcement slant. In fact, Lord wrote the very first episode in the Justice Building right there in Washington! The show came on strong right from the start and was a radio hit sensation.

Lord changed the name of the show to Gang Busters on January 15, 1936 under the banner of a new CBS network and sponsor Colgate-Palmolive. The pace was fast, the action was real and sometimes violent. The crimes and criminals were acted out, dramatizing lesser known, but often more interesting true crime cases found in the papers. The show had a 21-year run through November 20, 1957.

It followed that, like the notices in the Post Office, Lord could relay real wanted poster information on the show as well. During Gang Busters, alerts were broadcast for actual criminals wanted by the police or FBI, and teasers called "Crime Buster Clues" always kept the audience ready for more!

Beginning with a barrage of loud sound effects — a shrill police whistle, convicts marching in formation, wailing police sirens, machine guns firing, and squealing tires — this intrusive introduction led to the popular catchphrase "came on like Gang Busters" — followed by a voice over a megaphone or loudspeaker announcing the title of that night's program: "Tonight, Gang Busters presents the Case of the —" and ended with more blasts from a police whistle.

Later, shows like Dragnet, Crime Does Not Pay, and Tales of the Texas Rangers, would take on the real-life police drama as well. Dragnet was one of the originals that stayed as close to the real cases as any "true crime" old time radio show ever would. Less factual, but still exciting, were I Was a Communist for the FBI, and The FBI in Peace and War.