A group of elderly men nicknamed the “grandpa robbers” will go on trial in Paris next week, charged with carrying out a dramatic 2016 armed robbery of US reality TV star Kim Kardashian. The theft, involving jewellery worth up to €10 million, remains the largest robbery of an individual in France in two decades.
The trial is scheduled to run from 28 April to 23 May, with Kardashian expected to appear in person to provide testimony.
The Night of the Heist
In the early hours of 3 October 2016, five armed men dressed as police officers broke into Kardashian’s luxury apartment during Paris Fashion Week. The 44-year-old star was alone in her room, without security, as her bodyguard had accompanied her sister, Kourtney Kardashian, to a nightclub.
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The thieves reportedly tied up the building’s concierge and forced their way into Kardashian’s apartment, holding her at gunpoint. She was bound and gagged as they demanded her 18.88-carat diamond engagement ring, gifted by her then-husband Kanye West. The ring alone was valued at around $4 million.
Fear and Aftermath
Kardashian later described the ordeal as life-altering. In an interview with David Letterman, she revealed:
“I saw him have a gun out for me, and I was like, OK, this is it… I kept thinking about Kourtney coming back and finding me dead.”
She believes her active social media presence, where she often showcased her jewellery and travel plans in real-time, helped the robbers track her.
Following the incident, she dramatically scaled back her public sharing habits, later telling Forbes that the thieves “knew my every move and what I had.”
Who Are the ‘Grandpa Robbers’?
Ten suspects aged 60 and over are being charged with armed robbery, kidnapping, and membership in a criminal gang. Among them:
- Yunice Abbas (71): Admitted to his involvement and told French TV he stood guard during the robbery. “We were all grandads,” Abbas said. “I was told it was the wife of a rapper. I didn’t ask questions.”
He added that he saw Kardashian as a victim and had no personal grievance against her. - Aomar Ait Khedache (“Old Omar”, 68): Also confessed to taking part, but denies being the ringleader.
Of the original 12 individuals charged, one suspect has died, and another, Pierre Bouianere (80), has been declared medically unfit to stand trial. He will be tried separately.
Jewels Still Missing
Despite arrests, most of the stolen jewellery has never been recovered. Only one item—a diamond-encrusted cross worth €30,000—was found by a passerby the morning after the heist and returned to the police.
Security Lessons and Cultural Impact
The case sparked widespread debate about celebrity security, particularly in an age where social media makes personal whereabouts and possessions highly visible. Kardashian has since become more private online and taken on roles as a criminal justice reform advocate.
The trial is expected to garner international media attention, not only for the high-profile victim, but also for the unusual profile of the accused—elderly career criminals allegedly planning their final job.
