As the holiday season of 1927 approached, prestigious department stores in London were preparing for a rise in shoplifting incidents. Female shoplifters were becoming a common sight, with their nimble fingers often making headlines in newspapers. One store took measures to combat the thefts by increasing the number of store detectives and implementing a coded light system to alert staff when a known thief was present. However, no one was prepared for the organized and brazen crime spree that was about to unfold.
On December 23, a convoy of cars – estimated to be at least 14 in number – set off from Elephant and Castle, transporting a group of thieves to various stores across the city. Targets included Gamages in Holborn, Harrods in Knightsbridge, Selfridges on Oxford Street, Debenham & Freebody on Wigmore Street, and several others. The scale and coordination of the operation took everyone by surprise.
In a time when crime stories typically revolve around male gangsters, the concept of an all-female criminal syndicate from a century ago is truly shocking. Yet, the Forty Elephants, London’s most skilled female shoplifters, had been operating for decades by the time of the 1927 Christmas raid. Their intriguing story is now being brought to life in Steven Knight’s new historical crime series, “A Thousand Blows,” available on Disney+.
Knight’s series delves into the origins of the gang, focusing on the real-life figure Mary Carr (portrayed by Erin Doherty), who was the original leader of the Forty Elephants. The show also introduces characters like Alice Diamond (played by Darci Shaw), who took over the gang during the interwar years, their most successful period of operation.
The women of the Forty Elephants were known for their cunning tactics, which ranged from wearing elaborate dresses with hidden pockets to staging chaotic raids that left store staff and customers terrified. Their escapades were chronicled in Brian McDonald’s book, “Alice Diamond and the Forty Elephants,” published in 2015.
According to McDonald, the gang’s thefts were widespread and costly, with one store alone estimating losses of up to £7,000 in a year – a substantial sum even by today’s standards. While Knight situates the Forty Elephants in the East End in his series, their headquarters were actually located in Elephant and Castle in south London, despite their frequent forays into the affluent West End.
The origins of the gang can be traced back to the Elephant Gang, a male criminal organization that emerged in the 1780s at the Elephant and Castle Tavern. The area, named after the tavern, became a bustling hub connecting various parts of London and providing access to the City of London. As the gang evolved, it expanded its operations to target wealthy establishments in the West End, as depicted in Knight’s show.
Throughout the 19th century, London
Terrorized by horse racing meets, garrotting gangs that strangled victims to incapacitate them, footpads robbing pedestrians, and pickpockets stalking busy streets like The Strand, Queen of the Forties: Mary Carr, portrayed by Erin Doherty in “A Thousand Blows,” navigated a treacherous world of criminal activity in the city. The city’s wealth was concentrated north of the river, with the Elephant and Castle across the Thames serving as a hub for dangerous gangs. Social conditions gave rise to female gangs seeking protection and empowerment. Women banded together for safety, forming tight crews that engaged in criminal activities with the encouragement of their male counterparts.
The Forty Thieves, led by the original queen Mary Carr, emerged as a prominent criminal group. Carr, born in Holborn in 1862, had a tumultuous upbringing, becoming a skilled thief in her teenage years and spending time in a reform institution. Despite her criminal pursuits, Carr maintained a glamorous facade, working as an artist’s model and dressing stylishly. The Forty Thieves not only stole and fenced clothing but also flaunted high fashion to blend in with high society while enjoying a lavish lifestyle.
Using various disguises and tactics, including posing as socialites and maids to gain access to upscale establishments, the Forty Thieves operated with cunning precision. Carr’s deceptive methods, such as luring gentlemen into compromising situations and blackmailing them, garnered significant attention and wealth for the gang. Despite facing legal repercussions, including a kidnapping charge, Carr continued her criminal activities, leading to further convictions and notoriety.
Carr’s extravagant lifestyle and criminal exploits captured the public imagination, inspiring plays and stories that sensationalized her deeds. The notorious figure of Mary Carr embodied the intriguing and dangerous world of 19th-century London crime, leaving a lasting legacy in the annals of history.
In 1899, performances of the play began in the West End and continued in theaters until 1906. However, the details surrounding Carr’s death are limited to a note in a police record suggesting she passed away in 1924. Alice Diamond took over the gang known as the Forties a decade earlier.
In the novel “A Thousand Blows,” Alice, a shopgirl at Selfridges, aspires to join Carr’s gang. Carr puts Alice to the test with various criminal tasks but also tells her, “You don’t become an Elephant. Elephants are born.” This statement may ring true for the real Alice Diamond.
Born in 1896 in a workhouse infirmary, Alice grew up in the harsh environment of Southwark and endured unstable living conditions while her father faced legal troubles. She started getting into trouble for theft as a teenager and was eventually sentenced to a year in prison at the age of 18 for stealing from a warehouse. At a young age, she was already known to the police as the Queen of the Forties.
McDonald, who grew up around the Elephant, heard stories about Alice’s criminal activities from his Aunt Ada. The gang’s operations were briefly interrupted by the First World War, but they flourished in the interwar period, particularly in shoplifting. Department stores, popularized in the 1910s, presented new opportunities for theft as luxury items were openly displayed for customers to examine.
The women of the gang developed clever techniques for stealing various items, including concealing goods in special clothing with hidden compartments. They took advantage of changing rooms and tailor shops for theft opportunities. The evolving societal norms during the Edwardian era, characterized by boldness and daring, contributed to the rise of criminal activities like shoplifting.
Store detectives were employed to combat the shoplifters, with private detective Gertrude Hunter being a notable figure with 800 arrests to her name from her work at Brixton’s Bon Marché. The suffragette movement also played a role in influencing the Forties, with some members engaging in theft alongside protests. The changing landscape of British society during this period facilitated the rise of organized crime among women.
During the 1920s, the British press was captivated by the notorious Forty Elephants, an all-female gang of skilled thieves led by the formidable Alice Diamond. Standing at an impressive 5’9″, Alice was known for her strict discipline and violent tactics, which kept rival gangs at bay.
Under Alice’s leadership, the gang operated in smaller cells, executing coordinated heists in multiple cities like Bristol, Bath, and Birmingham. With the men of the Elephant Gang as getaway drivers and backup, the women were able to storm department stores from various entry points, causing chaos and confusion.
Despite Alice’s iron rule, internal conflicts within the gang led to violent clashes, such as the infamous “Lambeth riot” triggered by a member’s unauthorized marriage. The gang’s reign of crime peaked in 1939 before declining with improved shop security measures and the death of Alice in 1952.
The legacy of Queen Alice Diamond and the Forty Elephants lives on in London’s underworld history, immortalized in stories of daring raids and fierce rivalries. Explore this gripping tale of female empowerment and criminal intrigue in “A Thousand Blows,” now streaming on Disney+.
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