Two sisters from Crawley have been jailed for their involvement in a high-value conspiracy to steal perfumes and cosmetics from London Gatwick Airport.
Georgina and Laura Epitropou, aged 42 and 45, targeted duty-free stores over a ten-month period, taking goods worth an estimated £80,000.
This week, at Lewes Crown Court, both were sentenced to two and a half years in prison.
Georgina, of Grattons Drive, Crawley, admitted conspiracy to steal items between November 2021 and September 2022.
Laura, of The Boulevard, Crawley, admitted the same charge, and a further charge of acquiring criminal property.
The court was told how at first one sister would attend the airport and book internal flights.
But later both sisters became involved.
While one sister would distract a staff member, the other would fill an empty suitcase with stolen goods.
They were arrested, and an investigation by Gatwick CID found they had made 22 internal flights during the ten-month period.
PC Michelle 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.”
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.”
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