Two sisters from Crawley have been sentenced to two and a half years in prison after a ten-month conspiracy to steal high-value perfumes and cosmetics from duty-free stores at London Gatwick Airport.
Georgina Epitropou, 42, and Laura Epitropou, 45, carried out their thefts between November 2021 and September 2022 by booking internal UK flights to access duty-free areas. The pair were caught on CCTV and later arrested while attempting to board a flight from Gatwick to Belfast.
The court heard how the sisters conspired to steal goods worth an estimated £80,000, using a strategy where one sister would distract staff while the other filled a suitcase with stolen items. After an investigation by Gatwick CID, it was revealed they had made 22 internal flights during their theft spree.
At Lewes Crown Court on September 24, both sisters admitted to conspiracy to steal. Laura also pleaded guilty to an additional charge of acquiring criminal property.
PC Michelle Robinson, from Gatwick CID, said: “The Epitropou sisters targeted high-value products for their own financial greed. We worked closely with airport staff to build a strong case and ensure that justice was served.”
Daniel Cummins from the Crown Prosecution Service added, “Despite claiming they were in debt, it was clear the sisters were funding lavish lifestyles, including cosmetic surgery, by selling stolen goods through online marketplaces.”
