Swiss police say member of notorious 'Pink Panther' jewel thief gang escapes prison

Mpls Star Tribune ^ | 7/26/13 | JOHN HEILPRIN

[rhema]

GENEVA — A member of the notorious "Pink Panther" jewel thief gang escaped from a Swiss prison after accomplices rammed a gate and overpowered guards with bursts from their AK-47s, police said Friday.

Milan Poparic, 34, fled with fellow inmate Adrian Albrecht, 52, from the Orbe prison in the western canton (state) of Vaud late Thursday, according to a police statement.

He is the third member of the Pink Panthers to escape from a Swiss prison in as many months, according to Vaud police.

[rhema]

Call this man quickly.

[BBell]

The third member in as many months? Do you think this might be a trend???????

[chris37]

Sir Charles Phantom, the Notorious Lytton is on loose!

[Leaning Right]

I'm a bit surprised at the Swiss approach to prison security.

A snip from the article:

the guards were unarmed but were backed up by officers from the Swiss private security firm Protectas, who were equipped with “simple handguns” that were no match for the AK-47s

[Charles Martel]

Sending Clouseau to Switzerland is always a dicey proposition. As the Chief Inspector once commented:

"Now he's off to Gstaad. Today... a paradise in the Swiss Alps; tomorrow... a wasteland!"

[a fool in paradise]

Hey now, those Swiss carry gadget knives that are so dangerous you cannot even board an airplane with one!

[a fool in paradise]

Wonder if it's anything like this swedish prison cell (that looks nicer and more spacious than my old college dorm). Heck, this is even bigger than the cubicles I've worked in at billion dollar companies.