Smash & Grab: The Story of the Pink Panthers Page #6

and now they have disappeared.

The whole thing would have possibly

taken them about ten minutes.

Next day morning, early morning,

the two cars were found abandoned

and burnt.

One of them more than the other.

MAJOR GENERAL:
He closed

all the window of the cars.

When he closed the window, there

is no oxygen for the fire inside

and then we find all

the evidence inside this car.

We find the gloves,

we find some dress,

we find the tanks who have used

the chemicals to burn the cars.

Immediately, we know this

is organised

from Pink Panther organised crimes.

This is what I feel immediately,

when I go back to see the CCTV

camera.

TRANSLATION:

At that time, every single Serbian

who has had a record

was picked up and questioned.

TRANSLATION:

So how many people did you have

working on the job? Anything.

We don't get a limit for that.

It depended about

what the kind of work

they will be doing is.

Over the next three, four days,

it just went frantic.

They kept on feeding

information to the Interpol,

for the international police force

to try to get these guys.

TRANSLATION:

It's not easy for anyone

to do any crime

and not leave any evidence.

They left evidence, that helped us.

Because this is forensics

and that's the beauty of DNA.

We got information from Interpol

about the DNA.

So we were working.

And we knew that they rented a car.

But this car,

nobody knows where this car is.

Then we found the car.

We decide that we will not

take the car.

We will watch it.

And we find one guy -

they try to open the car

and we catch him,

because that guy,

they sent to take the jewels

out of the country.

We find the jewellery

inside this car.

Police, when the arrests were made,

called in a huge press conference.

All the media was there,

laid out the jewellery

in front of everybody and said,

"We've caught them,

we've nabbed them.

"We're done."

And who were the others, then?

You had a picture of the girl.

Yes.

But she's not in prison? No.

She's in Serbia, so maybe

she cannot be arrested in Serbia.

I hope she'll be arrested in Serbia.

But I know her.

We tried to discuss this

with Interpol.

We tried to do so.

So if a member of the Pink Panther

gang watches my film,

what is your message?

To be far from our area.

Don't try to play with us,

because we are not playing.

They had a great period

between 2000 and 2006.

And the problem for them,

it is that the connection

between the different police

in Europe is a problem for them.

We can exchange information

very easily.

And on top of that,

with Serbia and Montenegro now,

we have a good connection

and they are cooperating

with the Western police in Europe.

So for them, it's going to be harder

to commit these robberies in Europe.

And that's what Interpol said -

it's one of the first time

they have such a project

which gives so much information

and who bring us

to so many arrests.

Since 2007,

you have nearly 50 people

who were arrested across Europe.

Is it still safe here?

Oh, no, no, no.

Montenegro isn't a safe haven

any more.

Montenegro has started

to extradite people

because they want to join

the European Union.

So it's not any more

about doing it and escaping.

You have to protect yourself here

as much as there.

But, you know,

now we lead much more simple lives.

Things slowed down and, you know...

Now it's becoming more difficult

and more dangerous,

because the police know

all the tricks.

It would be very nice

to feel secure,

to be in your home - safe.

And this is the consequence

of this job - paranoia.

You see, now I walk down the street

and my head goes like...

Like a rear view mirror, you know?

Am I being followed?

Does anybody see me?

Anybody follow me?

The habit lingers.

Even now, in my pocket,

I have pills - had pills -

just in case.

But crisis throws you back in it.

You are used to a lot of money,

lots of fun.

You have a reputation -

easy money spent, easy money earned.

It burns quickly,

so when you're left with no money,

you don't know how to do

another job.

INTERCOM BUZZES:

We have always old teams who work,

who try to make new teams,

and at the same time,

we have brand-new teams.

We have a lot of guys

working in all Europe.

For me, they're more violent.

Already, their entrance

in the jeweller's

is not so professional

and there could be mistakes inside,

and that could be

more dangerous for us,

because the attitude of the bad guys

could bring us to a tragic end.

Look, I must warn you something -

you cannot say

the Pink Panthers' era is over,

because you don't know

what will happen next.

It is maybe just the end

of one generation.

But what is going on with

the other teams from other countries

that want to do the same?

Maybe we are just witnessing

the development.

I went back to Dimitrovgrad.

Bad. Very bad.

I was physically

and mentally shaken,

and after all that luxury,

I was completely broken down.

I was depressed.

But I realised that I have

to carry on with my life.

I got married to a man

who gave me hope.

He was completely legal.

He wasn't corrupt,

he wasn't criminal.

But I finally started

a new life with him.

I started a family.

BABY GURGLES:

In my heart, I remain what I was.

Milan is the man I love.

But when kids come,

you can't choose.

You have one path.

You cannot continue

on criminal path.

My mother was very pious

and with her,

I would sometimes pray to God

before bedtime.

But also in those moments

of hardship,

I would often go to church

to light a candle,

to cry and to think about things.

And do you still believe in God?

Yes, yes, of course.

And I teach my children. Of course.

We have to ask for His forgiveness.

And all these people

who are criminals, believe me,

they believe in God

more than regular people.

We have to pray a lot more

for His forgiveness.

God is merciful.

And maybe He will.

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