Pink Panther jewel thieves arrested

Two key members of the "Pink Panthers" international gang of jewel thieves were arrested in Paris this week, Interpol said yesterday.

The Pink Panthers have bagged loot worth up to $200 million in an estimated 120 attacks on luxury stores in around 20 countries since their first robbery in London's exclusive Mayfair district in 2003.

Interpol, which set up a special international Pink Panthers cell in July 2007 after years of being outwitted by the gang, said the Paris arrests were a result of cooperation between French and Swiss police.

It said the men arrested were "dangerous individuals" whom it named as Nicolai Ivanovic, 36, and Zoran Kostic, 38.

Interpol believes there may be up to 200 Pink Panther criminals, many of whom are Serbian nationals with military experience.

The group was given its nickname by British police after the 2003 robbery and refers to the debonair gentleman diamond robber from the 1960s Pink Panther film.