Eddie would like to see himself as a mastermind of the criminal fraternity, but then he sees his family and his bubble is burst, for the Rocksburghs are a quite a mixed bunch.

His wife Dolly is of London criminal royalty; her imprisoned mother remains highly regarded by all the big dogs. Dolly believes in people helping themselves, as she does (but only from the very best shops). Her younger sister, Norma, lives with them and is devoted to her feckless boyfriend, Ginger, who has one ambition in life: to be a scrounging layabout.

Against this backdrop of domestic harmony, Eddie plans his bank jobs, post office raids and various other schemes - but all are destined to be bungled, with only good fortune keeping the quartet from prison...