Gentlemen Thieves

I was watching the Pink Panther last night and it got me thinking about gentlemen thieves

Thieves who leave calling cards

Impeccably dressed and mannered dapper fellows who hobnob and mingle around the very wealthy people they will steal from both before and after the robbery

People like the Phantom from Pink Panther or Thomas Crown

What I was wondering about is this:

Did gentlemen thieves ever exist in real life or are they simply a Hollywood creation?