Gatwick Airport’s Policing Team and Sussex Police have both reported the successful conviction of a former World Duty Free employee who admitted stealing items to the value of around £12,000 ($15,772) in court on August 10.

 

 

In a statement, Sussex Police said: “A woman who stole thousands of pounds worth of designer jewellery from her employer at Gatwick Airport has been convicted.”

 

 

“Lavanyah Anandarooban, 23, was exposed after an internal investigation found she was responsible for stealing items to the value of approximately £12,000 from World Duty Free, in the South Terminal, between January and July this year.

 

 

“These included Michael Kors jewellery and watches, Pandora bracelets and charms, a large amount of Swarovski items and a pink Radley purse.”

 

 

 

 

MOST OF THE ITEMS HAVE BEEN RECOVERED

Sussex Police added that they were called to arrest Anandarooban at the airport on 25 July, with the items subsequently discovered and confiscated from the employee’s residence in Walthamstow, London, following a premises search later the same day.

 

 

Commenting, Sergeant Darren Taylor from the Gatwick Airport Policing Team said: “This conviction sends a clear message that theft on any scale – whether you are a passenger or an employee at Gatwick Airport – will not be tolerated. The airport is a safe and secure place, and anyone caught stealing will be dealt with robustly.”

 

 

 

 

ARRESTED WOMAN COOPERATED….

Police have since confirmed that the ‘vast majority of items stolen by Anandarooban have been recovered and returned to World Duty Free’.

 

 

Sgt Taylor added: “Anandarooban pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity, allowing the investigation to be brought to a quick conclusion.

 

 

“The encouraging thing about her sentence is she is required to carry out unpaid work, which will benefit not only the community, but her as well. Hopefully, she will learn from this and never come to our attention again.”

 

 

Crawley Magistrates’ Court ordered the ex-employee to work 150 unpaid community hours and pay costs and surcharges.