Police seek ‘Pink Panther’ suspect

Accused of membership of major crime network, Vinko is wanted over missing jewellery

An international diamond thief once believed to have been part of the notorious Pink Panther network is suspected to have struck a Chelsea art fair, making off with three rings worth more than £2 million (Dh9.9 million).

Vinko Osmakcic, a Croatian believed to be behind a number of high-value diamond thefts across Europe and the US, is wanted in connection with the disappearance of the jewellery from the event at the Royal Hospital Chelsea last year, Scotland Yard said.

‘May be out of UK’

The rings were removed from a cabinet at the Masterpiece London 2017 event at the famous retirement home on Royal Hospital Road on 4 July at around 5.30pm. The Metropolitan police have reissued an image of a man they believe to be Osmakcic in a fresh attempt to solve the case. It shows a bespectacled man with receding grey hair, dressed in a blue polo shirt and jeans.

Osmakcic was identified in 2010 by the New Yorker as being part of the Pink Panther network, named by Interpol after the crime-comedy films starring Peter Sellers. It was reported that he was a suspect in heists in Basel, Honolulu and Las Vegas among others.

Chris Taylor from Kensington and Chelsea CID, which is leading the investigation, said: “It is highly likely that Mr Osmakcic may be out of the UK, possibly in Europe.”