Foreign criminals are flying in and out of Sussex on shoplifting tours of the UK.

About 50 people are believed to have targeted Gatwick as part of Eastern European organised crime gangs, using budget airlines to travel between airport shops around the country.

Three Lithuanian men have been through the courts in Sussex and four more released on bail.

Police, who have launched a nationwide operation, say perfume, cigarettes, toiletries and clothing worth tens of thousands of pounds are being stolen every month.

Mantas Bilevicius, 22, was jailed for six weeks in February after stealing perfume worth £885 from World of Duty Free at Gatwick.

Juozas Butkevicius, 21 was fined £65 for stealing from Marks and Spencer earlier this month and last week Vitalij Gagin, 21, was given a conditional discharge at Crawley Magistrates’ Court last week for stealing from WH Smith.

Detective Inspector Alasdair Henry of Sussex Police said; “Busy airports can sometimes seem an attractive target for thieves of various kinds. But we are working together and raising awareness to ensure that this is not the case. We are reminding airport staff, and particularly those working in duty-free shops, to be on the alert and report any suspicions to police at once.

“This issue does not involve the vast majority of law-abiding travellers from countries across Eastern Europe who travel through airports whether on business or holiday. It is restricted to a small criminal minority and they are the only people we are targeting, through specific intelligence.”