Pink Panthers
| Founded by | Dragan Mikić |
|---|---|
| Founding location | Belgrade, Serbia |
| Years active | 1993-present |
| Ethnicity | Serbs, Montenegrins (Serbs), others |
| Criminal activities | Robbery, art theft |
| Allies | Serbian Mafia |
Named after The Pink Panther series of crime comedy films, Pink Panthers is the name given by Interpol to an international jewel thief network, composed of Serbs from Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia and Bosnia, which is responsible for some of the most audacious thefts in criminal history. They are responsible for what have been termed some of the most glamorous heists ever, and one criminologist even described their crimes as "artistry". They have targeted several countries and continents, and include Japan's most successful robbery ever amongst their thefts. A film documentary based upon their thefts, Smash & Grab, was released in 2013.
Some law enforcement agencies suspect that the group is responsible for over US$500 million in gold robberies in Dubai, Switzerland, Japan, France, Liechtenstein, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain and Monaco. Law enforcement authorities suspect their involvement in the robbery of the jewellery store Harry Winston in Paris, on 9 December 2008. The thieves escaped with more than €80 million worth of jewellery.
Interpol has said it estimates that there are several hundred thieves in the group, and that many come from Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. However, other sources say the gang is suspected of having at least sixty members, around thirty of whom are thought to be from Montenegro (Serbs). Several gang members are former soldiers with violent pasts. They are fluent in many different languages and possess passports which have been given to others.
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