The Story

Gone Shopping is the biography of shoplifter, Shirley Pitts, who was given the name “Queen of Thieves” by the newspapers when she died in 1992. Whilst the public are familiar with the true crime stories of gangsters, good fellas and fictional “bad” girls, Shirley Pitts story is unique in as much as the central character is real - the book documents the life of an active female criminals who spent 50 years – from the age of 7 to 57 – making a full time living from crime. Before she died Shirley told her story to Lorraine – a story of a generous, brave and beautiful woman with a huge sense of fun and a love of life.

Gone Shopping is published by Bloomsbury Reader 31 July, 2012 and is available from all major ebook retailers. It is also available in paperback – see bloomsbury.com

The LONG story >