Forty Elephants
Encyclopedia
The Forty Elephants or Forty Thieves were an all-female gang of London
criminals who specialised in shoplifting
. This gang was notable for its longevity and skill in avoiding police detection.
The Forty Thieves gang operated from the Elephant and Castle
district. They were allied to the Elephant and Castle mob
, led by the McDonald brothers. They raided quality stores in the West End of London
and ranged all over the country in the biggest operation of organised shoplifting the country has seen. Their history has been revealed in Gangs of London, by Brian McDonald, published in December 2010. They were in existence from at least 1873 to the 1950s with some indications that they may have been in existence since the late 18th century. During the early 20th century the gang was led by Alice Diamond, known variously as the Queen of the Forty Thieves and as Diamond Annie.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
criminals who specialised in shoplifting
Shoplifting
Shoplifting is theft of goods from a retail establishment. It is one of the most common property crimes dealt with by police and courts....
. This gang was notable for its longevity and skill in avoiding police detection.
The Forty Thieves gang operated from the Elephant and Castle
Elephant and Castle
The Elephant and Castle is a major road intersection in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Southwark. It is also used as a name for the surrounding area....
district. They were allied to the Elephant and Castle mob
Elephant and Castle Mob
The Elephant and Castle Mob was one of the many independent street gangs active in London's underworld during the interwar years. A rival of mobster Charles "Darby" Sabini along with the Birmingham Boys and the Cortesi brothers of Saffron Hill , they were eventually forced out by Sabini with the...
, led by the McDonald brothers. They raided quality stores in the West End of London
West End of London
The West End of London is an area of central London, containing many of the city's major tourist attractions, shops, businesses, government buildings, and entertainment . Use of the term began in the early 19th century to describe fashionable areas to the west of Charing Cross...
and ranged all over the country in the biggest operation of organised shoplifting the country has seen. Their history has been revealed in Gangs of London, by Brian McDonald, published in December 2010. They were in existence from at least 1873 to the 1950s with some indications that they may have been in existence since the late 18th century. During the early 20th century the gang was led by Alice Diamond, known variously as the Queen of the Forty Thieves and as Diamond Annie.