Five Queens, Forty Elephants (The Lives and Crimes of London's First All-Female Gang)

Peaky Blinders meets Oceans Eight. A movie in the making, the wild-but-true story of the all-female British crime syndicate who for more than 12 decades took advantage of 20th century gender norms to outwit London police and live the high life - a criminal sisterhood living unapologetically, seductively, feloniously.

The Forty Elephants was one of the most successful and long-lasting criminal organizations in English history—yet few recognize their name.

Disciplined and dedicated, this all-female, all working-class gang terrorized the streets of London from the 1870s to the early 1960s, not only matching their male counterparts in daring exploits, but outdoing them in ingenuity, adaptability, and organization. In their trademark fur coats, bloomers, and cleverly altered clothing with numerous fake pockets, they ran a complex and diverse operation that extended from pickpocketing and blackmail to shoplifting, fraud, and jewelry theft—and earned them a fortune. 

The Forty Elephants’ reign lasted for 12 decades—a testament to their many remarkable leaders, including Mary Carr, their groundbreaking founder in the 1880s, the charismatic Alice Diamond, who took over the gang at the age of 19 and authored their famous Hoister’s Code, and Shirley Pitts, nicknamed Queen of the Shoplifters, who led the gang until her death in 1992.

From hustling schemes that played on Victorian gender norms to bold department store smash-and-grabs, their methods evolved as times changed. But what remained constant was their bond of sisterhood, and the respect and admiration they received from the South London community, and surprisingly, from the police.

Despite their longevity and successes, the astonishing story of the Forty Elephants has been diminished and their achievements largely ignored. Now, drawing on previously untapped sources, award-winning author Nikki Vietz finally gives voice to these extraordinary, defiant women in an eye-opening, thrilling narrative of ambition, rivalry, feminism, resilience, and sisterhood.

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