RAPAPORT... Renowned U.S. investigative television program ''60 Minutes'' focused on the notorious jewel thief gang the Pink Panthers in a show that aired on March 23 across the CBS Television Network.
The group, loosely based out of Eastern Europe, frequently evades authorities and is the prime suspect in jewel heists that have totaled some $500 million, spanning 20 years and undoubtedly requiring meticulous planning and military discipline.
The Pink Panther gang was named after a Graff Jeweler's heist from which suspects hid a diamond in a jar of cold cream, something that also occurred in the famed ''Pink Panther'' mystery comedy films. CBS's ''60 Minutes'' set out to explore the thieves' activities and how Interpol struggles to stay on their trail.
While most robberies have involved high-end jewelry and watches, ''60 Minutes'' confirmed that masked Pink Panthers also stole paintings worth $163 million from a Zurich museum in 2008. The priceless loot included works by Cezanne, Monet, Degas and van Gogh and is said to have been the largest art robbery in European history.
The hour-long program will air at 7 p.m ET/PT tonight.
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