Two sisters have been jailed for a sophisticated theft operation at Gatwick Airport’s duty-free shops, where they stole around £80,000 worth of perfume and cosmetics. The pair, identified as Georgina and Laura Epitropou, devised a plan where one sister would distract staff while the other filled up an empty suitcase with goods. The scheme involved booking flights to access the duty-free area, with both sisters eventually becoming involved in the theft operation.
According to reports from Lewes Crown Court, the Epitropou sisters purchased 22 flights over a period of 10 months to carry out their thefts. Despite claiming to be in debt, the sisters were found to be living a lavish lifestyle, even undergoing cosmetic surgery. The stolen products were sold at reduced prices through online marketplaces and individual sales, allowing the sisters to profit from their criminal activities.
The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed that the sisters had put significant planning into their thefts, carefully selecting items to steal and adjusting their tactics when faced with challenges. Both sisters were charged with conspiracy to steal, with Laura, the older sibling, also facing charges of acquiring criminal property. Following their guilty pleas, the sisters were each sentenced to two and a half years in prison at Lewes Crown Court.
The Epitropou sisters’ intricate theft operation highlights the lengths individuals may go to fund extravagant lifestyles through criminal means. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of robust security measures in place to prevent such incidents from occurring in sensitive areas like airports.