Crime loomed large in the minds of Victorian Londoners. All over the city, watches, purses and handkerchiefs disappear from pockets; goods migrate from warehouses, off docks and out of shop windows. Burglaries are rife, shoplifting is carried out in West End stores and people fall victim to all kinds of ingenious swindles. Ross Gilfillan uncovers London's lost criminal past in this fascinating account of nineteenth century low-lie. 16 pages of b/w plates
