Watch Videos Of The Real Life Story That Inspired The Last Panthers

New European crime drama The Last Panthers is due air on Sky Atlantic tonight (12th November). The series focusses on an international criminal network of thieves and robbers, who undertake audacious heists in locations around the globe. Featuring an accomplished reel of actors including John Hurt and Samantha Morton, a theme tune written and performed by the legend that is David Bowie, and a budget thought to be around £13million, hopes are very high for the latest in a list of acclaimed shows to feature on the BSkyB channel. A truly shocking consideration however is that the story is actually based on real life events carried out by a notorious gang known as The Pink Panthers. And their story is just as intriguing as the fiction! Born out of a disenfranchised youth and corrupt political system during the breakup of Yugoslavia in the Balkan Conflict 1991-2001, the gang emerged with a focus to plunder the riches which they perceived as existing in affluent Western Europe and wealthier nations around the globe. Fuelled by a sense of jealousy, envy, and a distinct lack of employment around the Balkan states at that time, the gang exercised meticulous planning to carry out daring and intrepid thefts. Due to the inevitable insurance payouts that resulted from these crimes they were often seen as victimless, and the gang garnered a Robin Hood like status. It was in London that the gang first came to prominence in the UK, with the carefully executed theft of a £500K diamond from a jewellers in Mayfair. In this instance the diamond was eventually recovered by Police, found in a tub of face cream. It was this hiding place which lead to the naming of the gang by Interpol as The Pink Panthers, in reference to the same hiding place which was used in the film of the same name. Over the first decade following its inception the gang grew in to a worldwide network, with estimates of current numbers ranging in to the 100s. Thought to be responsible for over $500 million worth of stolen items, including the biggest heist ever seen in Japan involving a $31million necklace, the gang also traditionally followed a code of ethics that was perhaps in contrast to what could be seen as its outright criminality; the thefts were to be conducted with precision and class, and with an efficiency that negated the need to inflict any serious injury. As a result there was has been no recorded long lasting injuries following any of the thefts. With strong connections still existing to the Balkan states, the notoriety of the gang coupled with that fact that many original members of whom have since retired, means it entices many young people to become involved in what is touted to be Pink Panther lead crimes. However what differs from the original robberies is that finesse and craft is no longer prioritised, and easily coerced and impressionable individuals are drawn towards instant rewards and glamour. Coupled with the increased availability of weapons, the whole ethos and legacy of the network is at risk of being lost. To properly examine the roots and evolution of The Pink Panthers, The Telegraph have put together an insightful collection of video shorts cataloging its rise over the last 30 years. You can watch the first of these videos above and see them all on their YouTube channel, or click through to The Telegraph website.