Greek authorities are awaiting extradition of two Serbian members of the notorious “Pink Panthers” criminal network who were arrested in Bulgaria and Croatia following a jewelry heist at the Sani Resort in Halkidiki last September.
The suspects, aged 48 and 46, stole luxury watches and jewelry worth nearly €580,000 in the September 2 heist that lasted just over one minute. European arrest warrants led to their apprehension abroad after investigation by Greece’s Organized Crime Unit.
The gang earned its name in 2003 when London police found a stolen blue diamond hidden in face cream, echoing a scene from a Peter Sellers “Pink Panther” film. The four-member team entered Greece after August 20 using fake documents and stolen license plates, conducting repeated surveillance before striking. During the heist, two held employees at gunpoint while accomplices posed as visitors. The thieves escaped using electric scooters and vehicles. Investigators are examining their involvement in similar armed robberies across Europe during 2024-2025.