Smash & Grab: The Story of the Pink Panthers Page #2

Few Americans know little,

if anything, about Yugoslavia.

One reason is because not many

people know where to find it.

Actually, it's really quite simple -

just go to Italy and make a right.

Yugoslavia.

A popular misconception

about Yugoslavia is that

it is a neighbouring country

of the Soviet Union. In actuality,

it borders seven European countries,

none of them being Russia.

A bigger misconception than

the location, though,

is the country itself.

When most Americans

think of Yugoslavia,

this is not what comes to mind...

..or this...

..or this...

..or even this.

DOG BARKS IN THE DISTANCE

'The first time I heard about

Panthers were in 2004.

'It was a surprise.

'And my first thought

when newspapers published'

that the perpetrators

were three Serbs,

I said, "F***!

This is all we needed."

My second thought, however, was,

"Hmm, interesting.

"How very skilful people."

Because I didn't know

how they did it.

Well, before 2000,

we don't have Pink Panthers.

Some people started with

so big and exclusive heists...

..mostly in Europe, only Europe.

And after it, we have some of the

Panthers robbed out of Europe.

They went to Bahrain.

They went to Japan.

They went to Dubai.

I'm working right now for BIRN,

Balkan Investigative Reporting

Network.

And, at the moment, I am looking

for Pink Panthers, like I'm mad.

I'm working for more than

two years on this.

At first, I didn't believe it was

possible to find any of them.

Why would any say, "Look, I'm Pink

Panther, I'm going to help you"?

So that required a lot of work,

a lot of travelling,

a lot of phone calls...

..finding sources on the places

you would never believe

you can find them.

That usually meant being on the road

all the time,

travelling to the region

all the time,

meeting all kinds of people

all the time.

I must talk to dozens of different

people,

all kinds of people,

meet them, be ready to meet them

at any time.

You must make them trust you -

that you are not going to

talk to the police,

that you are not going to put

any of them in danger.

If you know, when you do something

so extraordinary which attracts

the attention of the whole world

and many people say, "Bravo,

you robbed the bigger criminals."

Well, that can light some fire

inside. I believe so.

OK, so if we start with...

Could he just introduce himself?

OK, Mike, so we've agreed that we

will record this interview,

but not show your face.

So, we'll use your real words

but we'll animate you and your voice.

No face. Not my real voice.

So, tell me, who are the

Pink Panthers?

Well, I don't have a badge that

says Pink Panther on it.

We are a network of teams

working together

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