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A chief suspect wanted for the theft of £2m worth of diamond rings is believed to be one of the oldest members of the Pink Panthers - an international jewellery thief network.

Detectives at Scotland Yard are hunting down Croatian national Vinko Osmakcic who they believe stole three rings from the Royal Hospital Chelsea last year.

The three expensive rings were stolen from Masterpiece London, an event at the hospital , on July 4.

Metropolitan Police say Osmakcic is "believed to be responsible for a number of high-value diamond thefts throughout Europe".

In 2010 The New Yorker magazine reported that Osmakcic was a member of the infamous Pink Panther network.

(Image: SWNS.com) (Image: SWNS.com)

They reported he was arrested by Monaco police in June of that year near the famous Monte Carlo Casino and, after being held on conspiracy charges, deported from the tiny principality.

Detective Sergeant Chris Taylor is leading the investiation. He said: “This was a well-planned and audacious theft committed in the middle of a busy art fair.

"We are re-releasing the image of Mr Osmakcic in an attempt to trace him.

"It is highly likely that Mr Osmakcic may be out of the UK, possibly in Europe. He may also be known by the following name Vinko Tomic or Juro Markelic.

“I am asking anyone who knows his whereabouts to contact police or Crimestoppers so we can bring him to justice.”

So far there have been no arrests.

(Image: SWNS.com)

The Pink Panthers name was given by Interpol to the jewel theft network which includes men from Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia and Bosnia.

They are responsible for some of the most audacious heists in recent history and are suspected of involvement in thefts from Dubai, Switzerland, Japan, France, Germany, USA, Spain and other countries across the world.

The gang are the chief suspects in the $136m jewlery theft at the Carlton Hotel in Cannes in 2013.