Constable Growler's day off is cut short when his friend Rupert is kidnapped by a trio of river pirates. Things go From Bad to Worse when his and Rupert's attempts to catch the thieves lead to them getting blamed for the robberies and other "crimes" committed en route. If he wants to clear their names and stop the real criminals, this is one time he won't be able to do everything "by the book."
This episode provides examples of:
- A Day in the Limelight: This is Constable Growler's most prominent role and where he has the most Character Development
- Bad Boss: The captain treats his grandsons like major annoyances he'd clearly much rather not have to put up with.
- Bound and Gagged: After briefly throwing Rupert in a locked room with the freedom to move around, the pirates tie him up and gag him before they leave.
- Busman's Holiday: Growler chooses to take a day off to go fishing the same day a crime spree takes place all along the river.
- Cassandra Truth: Since Growler lost his wallet and ID and is out of uniform, nobody believes his claims about being a constable or that he and Rupert aren't the thieves everyone's been looking for.
- Cat Up a Tree: The first arresting officer leaves Rupert and Growler alone in their cell because he has to go deal with this type of call.
- Diegetic Soundtrack Usage: Opens with Rupert strolling by the river while whistling his opening theme.
- Don't Be Ridiculous: When Rupert gasps in shock after the cousins call their grandfather a "pirate," they assure him they were just joking. Of course he's not really a pirate! He's just a "sneak thief."
- Double In-Law Marriage: The cousins have either 2 surnames, or one surname-turned-middle-name and one surname, that are reversed (Wembley Smythe and Smythe Wembley). Either one could be explained either by a huge coincidence, or by them being the results of this type of marriage.
- Flashed-Badge Hijack: Same principle — Growler has to use a random motorboat tied up on the river to chase the thieves. He leaves a note telling the owner it's been commandeered for police business, which, of course, gets lost...
- He Knows Too Much: The captain takes Rupert hostage after his grandsons casually explain to him what they've been doing all day.
- Locking Mac Gyverin The Store Cupboard: Rupert finds a piece of paper and a chunk of coal in the room he's locked in, which he uses to get a message to Constable Growler downstream.
- Minion with an F in Evil: Cyril and Cubby are the WORST pirates EVER, treating the whole enterprise more like a game or vacation.
- Nice Job Fixing It, Villain: Just after Rupert's and Growler's attempt to stop their getaway plane fails, one of his grandsons blinds the captain with the flash from his camera, causing him to crash the plane and allowing them all to be caught.
- No Name Given: The river pirate captain is never given a name — his grandsons only call him "Granddad."
- Noodle Incident: Constable Robinson comes back from the Cat Up a Tree emergency covered in branches. That must have been quite a rescue...
- Ruthless Modern Pirates: Unlike the last pirates Rupert met, they don't have eye patches, peg legs, parrots, or say "ARRRRRRRGH!" They break into homes, take whatever isn't nailed down, and use the river for a quick getaway.
- Screw the Rules, I'm Doing What's Right!: Growler eventually accepts that playing "by the book" can't help him this time and resolves to do whatever it takes to stop the crooks, from escaping after being arrested to hijacking a police van.
- Stupid Crooks: The cousins' Establishing Character Moment is gleefully telling Rupert all about the robberies they've recently committed.
- Surrounded by Idiots: The captain has no patience for his crew's stupidity.Captain: The brain power didn't run out until their generation.
- Uncanny Family Resemblance: Cyril and Cubby are cousins, but they look like almost-identical twins with different colored hair.
- We Can Rule Together: Sick of his grandsons' idiocy, the captain asks Rupert if he'd like their job instead. No points for guessing what answer he gets.
- Wrongful Accusation Insurance: Despite escaping, multiple thefts, and significant property damage, once it's revealed they're actually not responsible for the original thefts along the river, Growler and Rupert are released with all charges dropped.
