The Criminal Network that has Confounded Detectives Worldwide

The Pink- By Yakov M. Wagschal Panthers Millions of dollars in diamonds disappear without a trace. Posh jewelry stores frequented by society's elite are successfully robbed in broad daylight in three minutes flat. Meet a highly professional crime ring that has given countless law enforcement agents many sleepless nights. This group is infamously known as the Pink Panthers, and they are the most professional diamond thieves in the world.

64 | ZMAN • June 2014 ZMAN • Sivan 5774 | 65 hile the Pink Panthers have most of their have taken place in Concealed in a made it into the headlines and Europe, their tentacles have spread all the Jar of Face Cream Wfront pages of many newspapers way to Tokyo, Dubai and elsewhere. throughout the world, it is entirely possible Here is a glimpse into the Pink Panthers, that you’ve never heard about them. That’s a group whose very name evokes fear in to identify Vujosevic, who was then residing because they’re not fanatical ideologues or diamond dealers, jewelry boutique owners in .It did notThey take learned long forthat the he British had arrived police bloodthirsty murderers. Rather, their goals and executives of insurance companies. Last in and rented a room in a shoddy but not least, they strike fear in the hearts hotel in Bayswater, near Hyde Park, a they’ve executed at least 370 diamond heists mere two weeks before he carried out the inare 35 purely different financial. countries In the and past have two managed decades, they might, cannot capture or dismantle the to escape with half a billion dollars’ worth group.of police officers and detectives, who try as , who made all of Vujosevic’s travelheist. Inarrangements London, he met and Milan helped Jovetic him fromplan those robberies, they’ve only been held Next Stop: Graff A at Graff in 2009. The two robbers were the burglary. accountableof jewelry and for one diamonds. fatality. Incredibly, in all caught on security cameras as they entered the store. A week before the burglary, a third That’s not to say that the Pink Panthers Diamonds in London man—this one from Zurich, — are compassionate, kindhearted people or joined the group in London. His name was that they have much respect for life or that 2003, when a man in his twenties strolled Montenegro. He is believed to be one of the Nebojsa Denic, a hulking Serb originally you should have respect for their livelihood casuallyIt was down a pleasant New Bond spring Street day, in MayLondon, 19, mastermindsborn and raised of the in infamous Bijela, a fishing Pink Panthers. town in from Kosovo who was a janitor in a Swiss and lifestyle. They just happen to be highly - New Bond Street in London is home to trained, disciplined individuals who have ship shop. Graff prides itself on selling the various jewelry shops and is located just a perfected the art of carrying out sophisti- stopping“most fabulous right outside jewels Graffin the Diamonds' world” and flag its few minutes away from Buckingham Palace. hospital. The three met in Isleworth, in West cated robberies without bloodshed. They clientele is comprised of rich and famous Possibly, the reason Vujosevic was drawn London, where they finalized their plans. plan each heist meticulously, repeatedly personalities worldwide. to Graff Diamonds was its unique jewels. visiting the shops and boutiques they plan to The tall blond man who stood outside Graff is famous for its specialty, colored rob until they feel ready to act. Most of their Graff on that spring morning didn’t exchange gemstones, and Vujosevic had a penchant for robberies take no longer than 60 seconds, a word with anyone, nor did he enter the and often within minutes they’ve already Graff because of the lax, woefully inadequate crossed the border into a foreign country, display in the window he resumed his stroll. securitythem. It ismeasures. also highly probable that he chose carrying jewelry worth millions of dollars. shop.This After man five was minutes no ordinary of staring window at the Security guards at Graff Diamonds shopper. His name was Predrag Vujosevic, do not ask clients if they have scheduled around the world have tried relentlessly but appointments and never check their client’s unsuccessfullyInterpol and to topple law enforcement the Pink Panthers, agents handbags, lest the posh, upper class clients but the group only keeps on expanding. be offended. At Graff Diamonds, courte- While there have been a few arrests of ous treatment of every client is of primary members, and even some leaders of the importance. It was a pleasant spring day in May 2003 when a man in his twenties paused outside the Graff Diamonds shop group, many of them have managed to Around noon, Vujosevic visited Graff to admire the gems in the window. escape from prison only to resume their again. This time, though, he was not alone. nefarious activities. The only time the group There was another Pink Panther with him. resorts to violence is when they clash with Graff specializes in colored gems. They entered the store together and in less police and prison guards while attempting than three minutes they made off with $30 to liberate group members from prison. million worth of diamonds—the biggest The Pink Panthers are a conglomerate of diamond heist in all of Britain’s history! multiple groups who work together under Naturally, Scotland Yard made every one umbrella organization. They hail from effort to pursue Vujosevic and his accom- various countries, mostly and Monte- plice. There were plenty of clear photos negro, both parts of the former Yugoslavia. of both of them retrieved from security Many of them are believed to have had some cameras that were sent to police forces and military training (which explains why they detectives around the world in the hope that are so disciplined and organized) and may someone somewhere would recognize them have fought in the Yugoslav Wars. And while Jewelry on display in Graff Diamonds. and turn them in. Items on display in a jewelry boutique in London.

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