In a dramatic conclusion to one of France’s most audacious celebrity crimes, a Paris court has found four men guilty of a meticulously planned, armed break-in at Kim Kardashian’s luxury Paris residence during Fashion Week in October 2016. Known by French media as the “grandpa robbers” due to the advanced age of their ringleaders, the gang stole jewelry valued at up to €10 million—making it one of the largest individual-target robberies in France in two decades.
Masked Intruders Strike Under Cover of Darkness
In the early hours of 3 October 2016, four gunmen donned police jackets, masks and gloves before arriving on foot and by bicycle at a high-security “no-address” building near Place de la Concorde. Believing them to be officers, the night receptionist opened the door. The intruders immediately drew firearms, handcuffing the staff member and forcing him into the elevator to locate Kardashian’s suite.
Hostage Situation and Cinematic Escape
Kardashian, then 35, was alone in her two-floor suite—her bodyguard had accompanied her sister to a nightclub—when the men burst in. Taping her mouth and tying her hands and feet, they threatened her with a gun and demanded her most valuable possessions. The robbers ransacked the bedroom and adjoining vault, absconding with high-value pieces including Kardashian’s 18.88-carat diamond engagement ring, estimated at £3 million, as well as earrings, necklaces and bracelets. All traces of the stolen items vanished; none have ever been recovered.
“No Address” Building: A Favored Celebrity Hideaway
The opulent residence, known to rent to A-list guests anonymously, was chosen precisely for its faceless façade and discreet entry. Its single night receptionist, 48-year-old doctoral candidate Abderrahmane Ouatiki, later testified that he mistook the robbers for real police officers. Security footage revealed that the group timed their arrival to coincide with light pedestrian traffic, using bicycles to avoid attention.
Trial Unmasks Seasoned Career Criminals
Among the eight defendants tried over six years later, three pensioners—Aomar Aït Khedache, Didier Dubreucq and Yunice Abbas—led the plot. Marc-Alexandre Boyer, in his 30s, acted as the on-the-ground muscle. Prosecutor Anne-Dominique Merville warned jurors not to be deceived by their age or “reassuring wrinkles,” emphasizing their extensive criminal histories.
Leader’s Confession: “I Ask for Forgiveness”
Aït Khedache, 68, a retired restaurant owner dubbed chief architect, faced the heaviest sentence: three years’ imprisonment plus a five-year suspended term. Deemed unfit for further jail time due to health and time served, he will not return to prison. Unable to speak or hear, he communicated via written answers projected in court, ending with a handwritten plea: “I ask for forgiveness. I can’t find the words. I am very sorry.”
Co-Defendants Express Regret
Yunice Abbas, 71, who scouted the site on bicycles with two accomplices, and Didier Dubreucq, 69, also apologized. “All I have to offer you is regret,” Abbas told the court. The sole younger convict, Boyer, declined to comment publicly, his face inscrutable as the verdict was read.
Additional Accomplices Convicted, Two Acquitted
Four other individuals were convicted on related charges—providing logistical support, fencing stolen items or aiding the gang’s movements. Two defendants accused of supplying inside information about Kardashian’s schedule were acquitted when the prosecution failed to prove their involvement beyond reasonable doubt.
Victim Impact: Kim Kardashian’s Testimony
In a rare move for a celebrity victim in France, Kardashian attended portions of the trial in person. She described waking in her nightrobe, computer still open, and mistaking her attackers for intruders with hostile intent. Fearful she would be raped or killed, she begged the receptionist to relay that she had children at home. “I didn’t understand what was happening … I was certain I would be shot dead,” she testified, her voice trembling.
Aftermath: Lasting Trauma and Heightened Security
The ordeal, she said, irrevocably altered her sense of safety. Formerly unconcerned about personal security, Kardashian disclosed now having up to six guards at her residences. “We never felt unsafe before this. This experience changed everything,” she told the court, adding that she forgave her assailants but could not erase the trauma.
Media Frenzy and Social Media Oversharing
Prosecutors argued that Kardashian’s high-profile social media presence—where she often posted her whereabouts and flaunted expensive jewelry—made her a target. On the night of the heist, she and sister Kourtney had been photographed at multiple runway shows and dinners, then returned to the suite alone. The reception area’s single staffer and the building’s anonymity combined to create the perfect storm for the robbers.
Empty Hands: The Disappearing Loot
Investigators have never traced the stolen jewels. Prosecutors believe the gang split into two cells—one to keep watch, the other to execute the theft—and coordinated with illicit international markets to launder or dismantle the items. Despite exhaustive police work across Europe, no reliable leads emerged on the ring or other high-value pieces.
Sentencing and No Return to Prison
All four convicted robbers received suspended sentences or credited time for pretrial detention; none will reenter custody. Judge Marie-Claire Lemaire cited mitigating factors—advanced age and health concerns—but condemned their actions as “callous and premeditated.” Three co-defendants convicted of aiding the crime received sentences ranging from two to six months suspended.
Kim Kardashian’s Statement of Gratitude
Following the verdict, Kardashian issued a statement thanking French authorities for their determination. “The crime was the most terrifying experience of my life, leaving a lasting impact on me and my family,” she wrote. “I pray for healing for all involved and believe in accountability and growth.”
Legal Precedent: Celebrity Crime in France
The case has drawn attention to the French justice system’s handling of crimes against high-profile victims. While France’s victim-friendly procedures allow direct testimony, the elderly age of many defendants and their health complications tested traditional sentencing norms. Legal experts note this trial may prompt reforms in housing security for celebrities and better coordination between private security and law enforcement.
Reflections on Security and Privacy
Security analysts have highlighted the vulnerability of celebrities who manage personal brands via social media. “Oversharing can be a double-edged sword,” notes Pierre Dubois, a Paris-based security consultant. “High visibility attracts sponsors but also organized criminals who study online behavior to plan sophisticated crimes.”
Legacy of the Heist
Eight years after the break-in, the Kardashian robbery remains etched in popular memory as a Hollywood-style thriller set in the heart of Paris. Its blend of luxury, violence and celebrity has inspired true-crime documentaries and secured a place in the annals of criminal lore. Now, with convictions in hand, Paris courts have delivered a measure of justice—and reminded the world that even “grandpa robbers” can orchestrate high-stakes robberies with chilling precision.
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