Crooks Anonymous

Dandy Forsdyke is a habitual criminal who loves pickpocketing and safecracking, yet he longs to quit and win Babette’s approval. He hides behind a false identity, ashamed of his real name, and worries that his past will ruin their engagement. Babette, a stripper, wants him to go straight before they marry, creating tension between desire and habit.

Babette comes across Crooks Anonymous, a society aimed at reforming hardened thieves and helping them go straight. The group, founded by Mr Montague and funded by a legacy, promises rehabilitation and a new path away from crime. She decides to help Forsdyke through their program.

During a robbery, Forsdyke is picked up by Brother Widdowes disguised as a policeman and taken to Crooks Anonymous’ headquarters. He is confronted with the possibility of reform and the chance to marry Babette. The capture marks the start of his rehabilitation journey.

Montague and the staff interrogate Forsdyke, uncovering that he uses a false name, Cox, and that his military claims are fabrications. They expose his habit of lying and his lack of real service. This moment tests his willingness to change under pressure.

Forsdyke is subjected to punishment therapy to break old habits. He is locked in a room filled with safes that hold cigarettes, food, and drink, but are rigged with booby traps that make each attempt dangerous. The daily grind wears him down as he tries to resist old reflexes.

After a week, Forsdyke begins to crack but cannot pass a key test of progress. He behaves well inside the rehab but reverts to his old ways as soon as he steps back into society. The relapse shows the struggle between habit and rehabilitation.

After a month of correctional therapy, Forsdyke is released into society. He moves in with Babette, lands a job as Father Christmas in a department store, and declines a return to his former criminal associates. The new life seems within reach.

At a Christmas party, Forsdyke drinks heavily, passes out, and wakes to find himself alone with £250,000 in the department store safe. He breaks in intending to steal it, but panics and calls Crooks Anonymous for help. This marks a dangerous relapse that threatens his progress.

Crooks Anonymous sends two top men, including Brother Widdowes, who are tempted by the money themselves. They also call Senior Brother, who arrives with his Secretary, setting up the plan to claim the money for themselves. The moral test deepens as the group contemplates betraying their own rules.

The five crooks arrive at Forsdyke's house and are confronted by Babette, who insists they put the money back. Her bold stand shakes their resolve, and they grudgingly agree to return the cash, threatening only to call Scotland Yard if they refuse again. The confrontation tests whether they will stay honest for Babette's sake.

The group manages to return the money, but their act triggers an alarm that brings out night watchmen. The near-miss preserves a fragile balance between crime and reform. The incident exposes how close Forsdyke has come to another relapse.

Forsdyke and Babette marry, solidifying their bond and his commitment to a straight life. In recognition of her role in steering them away from crime, they make Babette a Guardian Angel of Crooks Anonymous. The group’s work appears to have earned a second chance for everyone involved.