Police in Paris and international investigators hope that the recent arrest of two ‘Pink Panther’ diamond thiefs may shed some much anticipated light on a number of heists over recent years.
In Paris, the posters for one of the thieves still wanted “Zoran Kostic” show images of a fugitive who investigators believe may hold the key to breaking and uncovering a huge international network of globe-hopping jewel thieves with a taste for jewels including chunky diamonds, diamond stud earrings and diamond necklaces. Zoran Kostic is believed to be the main ring leader and tops the list of Pink Panther theives still at large.
The Interpol poster shows his eye color as green. Mr. Kostic’s photos veer from dark mediteranean skin tone with messy hair. In Germany a reward has been posted offering 5,000 euros which shows the same thief with a softer complection. The man is understood to be posing as a wealthy banker.
So far, even with these two recent arrests, investigators have been unable to uncover what happened the huge heists of stolen diamonds from a number of thefts believed to be connected. Authorities in Paris say the Pink Panthers have stolen diamonds worth over $130 million in operations spreading the globe from Dubai to Geneva, Tokyo, Paris and France.
Their nickname “Pink Panther” was coined by English investigators when one suspect there hid a diamond worth over $650,000 in a pot of cream. A similar rue seen in the famous movies “Pink Panther” starring the now deceased Peter Sellers.