Sisters raid Gatwick Airport duty-free stealing £80,000 of perfume and make-up in suitcases

Sisters Georgina and Laura Epitropou targeted duty-free stores at Gatwick Airport, and then managed to steal £80,000 of perfume and make-up goods in less than a year

Two sisters have been jailed after they stole around £80,000 worth of perfume and cosmetics from the duty free at Gatwick Airport over a series of months.

Georgina and Laura Epitropou targeted duty free stores at the airport and created a simple yet sophisticated way to steal thousands of pounds of items. While the scheme started with just one sister, who would come to the airport and book international flights, both sisters soon became involved.

To access the duty free, which required a ticket to go through security, both sisters would buy flights before carrying out their heists. While one sister distracted a staff member, the other would fill an empty suitcase with stolen goods, Lewes Crown Court heard. But after 10 months, the Epitropou sisters from Crawley - Georgina, 42, and Laura, 45 - were arrested.

An investigation into their crimes by Gatwick CID also found they had made 22 internal flights during the 10-month period. Daniel Cummins from the Crown Prosecution Service said: “Despite claiming that they were in debt when they were arrested, it was clear that both sisters were living beyond their means and using these thefts to fund their lavish lifestyles, which included cosmetic surgery.

“They were stealing to order, putting significant planning into these thefts, deciding how many items to take and even lowering that number after Laura was arrested by Police Scotland with stolen goods in her possession. The women sold the stolen products at around half the price they retailed for, making thousands in the process through online marketplaces and sales to individuals.”

The sisters were charged with conspiracy to steal items, and Laura was also charged with acquiring criminal property. They pleaded guilty to all the charges and were each sentenced to two and a half years in prison at Lewes Crown Court.