Vojislav Stanimirović (19 March 1937 – 13 June 2022) was a Serbian-born American journalist and one-time crime figure, most famous for his leading role in the Vizcaya Heist. He emigrated to the United States in 1952. Stanimirović was also later involved with YACS and the Pink Panthers among Serbian mafia figures. He is the father of Pavle Stanimirović. He died of mesothelioma on June 13, 2022 in Novi Sad, Serbia.

The Vizcaya Heist

On 22 March 1971, three individuals from

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

raided the Villa Vizcaya in Miami and stole approximately $1,500,000 in artwork and silver items, some of which were of historical value. This trio of reputed jewel thieves was arrested on 25 March 1971. The

New York Police Department The City of New York Police Department, also referred to as New York City Police Department (NYPD), is the primary law enforcement agency within New York City. Established on May 23, 1845, the NYPD is the largest, and one of the oldest, munic ...

raided the luxurious

Manhattan Manhattan ( ) is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the Boroughs of New York City, five boroughs of New York City. Coextensive with New York County, Manhattan is the County statistics of the United States#Smallest, larg ...

apartment of Vojislav Stanimirović and his wife Branka, and arrested them. The couple's accomplice, Aleksandar Karanović, was also arrested, and all three were charged with suspicion of stolen property and possession of a dangerous weapon. From the Stanimirovićs' apartment approximately $250,000 of the stolen goods was recovered. Sergeant Connolly stated that included in the theft was a silver bowl that once belonged to

Napoleon Bonaparte Napoleon Bonaparte (born Napoleone di Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French general and statesman who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led Military career ...

and was virtually priceless. According to Connolly, the three perpetrators had been under surveillance for four months for unrelated jewel burglaries that they had carried out in the Manhattan Diamond District. NYPD Captain Thomas Kissane said that the vast majority of the precious items stolen from the Vizcaya have never been recovered.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stanimirovic, Vojislav 1937 births 2022 deaths 20th-century criminals Serbian criminals Crimes in New York (state) Serbian expatriates in the United States Deaths from mesothelioma