Home / Crime and Justice / Sisters' £220,000 Duty-Free Heist Ends in Prison
Sisters' £220,000 Duty-Free Heist Ends in Prison
16 Feb
Summary
- Two sisters received jail sentences for duty-free theft at Gatwick.
- They must repay nearly £220,000 in stolen goods.
- Perfumes and cosmetics worth £80,000 were sold online.
Two sisters, Laura and Georgina Epitropou, both from Crawley, West Sussex, have been ordered to repay a total of nearly £220,000 following their conviction for theft from Gatwick Airport's duty-free outlets. In September 2024, the sisters received sentences of two and a half years imprisonment each.
Laura Epitropou pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal and acquiring criminal property, while Georgina Epitropou pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal. At a recent hearing at Lewes Crown Court, a confiscation order was issued. Laura has one month to repay £182,090.99, and Georgina has three months to repay £37,487.85.
Investigations revealed that the sisters had generated approximately £40,000 in just 10 months through their illicit activities. The stolen goods, primarily perfumes and cosmetics valued at around £80,000, were often sold online or to specific buyers. Their arrest occurred while they were boarding a flight from Belfast to Gatwick, carrying approximately £2,000 worth of stolen items.
