Sir Arthur Rumbold, the pompous Secretary for Home Affairs, announces that he wishes to introduce much tougher penalties for offences against property. Raffles, believing this to be a step back into the dark ages of Botany Bay and transportation for life, is furious and determines to teach Sir Arthur a lesson by burgling his own substantial London home.

Announcing to Bunny that the burglary will be an unplanned affair, Raffles goes enthusiastically to work, but it is not long before events start to go drastically wrong.