Gone Shopping: The Story of Shirley Pitts - Queen of Thieves

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He added: "They threw the liveliest of parties and spent lavishly at pubs, clubs and restaurants. Their lifestyles were in pursuit of those of glamorous movie stars, combined with the decadent living of 1920s aristocratic flapper society. They read of the outrageous behaviour of rich, bright young things and wanted to emulate them.” The Society now runs six main open trials and two with restricted entry conditions plus organising the Devon V Cornwall match in alternate years. In 2016 a new trial was held and called the Cowling Trial this has become an anual event now called The Huish Champflower Trial Brits wake to another freezing morning as sub-zero temperatures hit overnight - with snow on the way in the coming days Pitts's architect son, Chris Hawkins, writes of his mother: ``She was the woman who was always in your corner, who never let you down and who was always absolutely genuine. If you hurt, she would hurt twice as bad, and if it concerned her children and it came to a fist fight, she would throw the first punch. Women used to use their large clothing to their advantage to conceal stolen goods (Image: “A Female Shoplifter,” from James D. McCabe Jr. Lights and Shadows of New York Life. Philadelphia: National Publishing Co., 1872/ Public Domain)

a b c d e f g h Scott, Jane (March 1996). "Life of luxury off the rails". The Herald . Retrieved 11 September 2017. After an apprenticeship with the Forty Thieves, a gang of South London shoplifters...When police switched on to the gang's methods they branched out, with trips to Southend, Brighton, Liverpool and Manchester. Members of The Forty Thieves worked department stores including Selfridges in teams of three or four during hoisting trips up to three times a week. He described Buster, the film about his fellow robber Ronald “Buster” Edwards as “Carry On, Great Train Robbery”.

There were rumours that Shirley was buried in her favourite Zandra Rhodes dress which she'd hoisted but those were false because no shoplifter worth their salt would wear what they had stolen. She'd cleared the inner wall and now only the 25ft outer wall stood between her and freedom, but there were only moments to go before someone noticed she was missing.Unsurprisingly, Gypsy lived the high life, as her lover Billy showered her with diamonds and furs. She jetted off on holiday to the South of France and even opened a nightclub in Tangier which was frequented by the Rolling Stones. It was a far cry from her impoverished upbringing in Ilford, Essex. Her brother was the notorious gangster 'Mad' Frankie Fraser, who joined turf wars between London gangs in the sixties. Ms Marsh said: 'These women fought harder than the men and were feared by men and women in their communities. Even the gangster 'Mad' Frankie Fraser, whose sister Eva was a leading light in the gang in the thirties and forties, spoke with great reverence about Alice Diamond.

The cells did not have a reforming effect on her character — or on that of her gang leader Diamond, who was arrested on numerous ­occasions over the following decade. Reggie and Ronnie got out of the limo, hopped over the low wall outside the flat and went in to have a word with Chrissie, while Pitts put the tea on. They didn't lay a finger on him, but he never raised a fist to Pitts again, even when she started laying into him. Pitts always gave as good as she got. TERRY VENABLES EXCLUSIVE: 'At Euro '96 I had captains everywhere, but the Champions League and Premier League have grown so much now it is hard to see if England still has the same importance' Current membership is in the region of 200 and the Society continues to grow and to promote all aspects of Sheepdog handling in the area. Thankfully as some of the members begin to show signs of wear and tear new faces appear and new hands volunteer to carry the baton forward. Brian B Clifford mentioned in the record of Katz and Brian B Clifford. Family Search. Retrieved 9 September 2017.More than 100,000 march through London 'in largest protest against anti-Semitism since 1936': Huge crowds waving Israeli flags and placards descend on capital and are joined by Boris Johnson, Rachel Riley, Eddie Marsan and Vanessa Feltz