Two sisters, Georgina and Laura Epitropou, have been jailed for two and a half years following a series of thefts at Gatwick Airport duty free shops, totalling thousands of pounds.

The Epitropou sisters, from Crawley, repeatedly booked domestic flights to access Gatwick’s duty free shops. In total, the court heard that the pair booked 22 flights to carry out their elaborate scheme, which spanned over a ten month period ending in November 2021. During their raids, they filled empty suitcases with around 80,000 pounds worth of perfume and cosmetics as part of a high value scheme.

Investigators found that the crime spree had begun with just one sister before the other joined. During the thefts, the pair worked together craftily, with one sister distracting staff while the other filled a suitcase with goods. Following the thefts, the sisters sold what PC Michelle Robinson described as “high value” items, either online or to specific buyers.

After the 2024 court proceedings, Daniel Cummins of the Crown Prosecution Service said the duo put “significant planning” into their crimes and sold the stolen goods for about half of their retail value. Bank statements revealed they had amassed 40,000 pounds over a span of just ten months.

Their crime spree was only stopped when they were caught boarding a flight from Belfast carrying 2,000 pounds worth of stolen goods in their luggage. Typical flight fares from Gatwick to Belfast are quite low, with budget airlines charging as little as 24 pounds a ticket, leaving the pair with the chance to make a considerable amount of profit.

‍

Robinson said, “The Epitropou sisters targeted high value perfumes and cosmetic products for their own financial greed.

“We worked in partnership with our colleagues at the airport to build a strong case against the sisters. Business crime and shop thefts has a considerable impact on victims including shop workers, so we were determined to catch these offenders. It demonstrates that we take these reports seriously and will work hard to ensure that offenders are prosecuted.”

Prosecutor Cummins stated that the pair were living a life of luxury as a result of the scheme and that,

“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.”

‍

He added:

“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 eldest sister, Laura, 45, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal and acquiring criminal property, while Georgina, 42, admitted to conspiracy to steal. Both sisters received the same sentence of two and a half years. On Monday, February 16, a confiscation order was made at Lewes Crown Court giving Laura one month to repay 182,090.99 pounds and Georgina three months to repay 37,487.85 pounds.