"The Infamous 'Grandpa Robbers': Kim Kardashian’s Gunpoint Ordeal Revisited"

Sat Feb 07 2026 02:23:14 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A group of elderly criminals, dubbed the "grandpa robbers," are on trial for the audacious heist of Kim Kardashian's jewelry in Paris, unaware of her celebrity status during the robbery.

Kim Kardashian’s 2016 robbery by a group of elderly criminals has become infamous, with a trial looming nearly nine years later. The gang, who were unaware of Kardashian's fame, remains an oddity in crime history, blending old-school burglary with the era of social media.

In the early hours of October 3, 2016, a group of criminals—teetering on the cusp of retirement—pulled off an audacious heist at the luxury Paris apartment of American reality TV star Kim Kardashian. Dubbed the "grandpa robbers" by the French press, these men had no idea whom they were targeting as they held Kardashian at gunpoint and made off with an estimated $10 million worth of jewelry, including a $4 million engagement ring from her ex-husband, Kanye West.

The ringleader, 62-year-old Yunice Abbas, returned home that morning oblivious to the global attention he had just garnered. His wife caught the news and immediately suspected his involvement. The robbery was supposed to be the crown jewel of his criminal career, a last hurrah before retirement, but a host of blunders led to the group’s eventual capture just months later.

Now, nearly nine years later, Abbas and ten of his accomplices face trial in Paris, with five standing accused of directly participating in the heist. Abbas and another man have confessed, while the others vary in their responses to the charges. The trial has drawn significant media attention as questions arise around the gang's planning—or lack thereof—and the curious interactions between social media and criminal enterprise.

On that fateful night, the gang staked out Kardashian's hotel, entering while disguised as police officers. The criminals threatened and restrained a hotel employee before making their way to Kardashian's suite, where she was quietly resting after attending Fashion Week events. The situation escalated quickly, and as the assailants demanded her valuables, Kardashian feared for her safety.

They tied her up with zip ties and duct tape before fleeing the scene on foot and bikes. It was later revealed that one of the robbers fell and dropped a bag of stolen jewelry, allowing police to quickly piece together various aspects of the crime thanks to DNA evidence and the surveillance capabilities in Paris at that time.

As the trial approaches, authorities are also investigating a potential inside job, given that the criminals had specific knowledge of Kardashian's whereabouts. This has led to the arrest of a transport service employee suspected of providing the gang with intelligence on Kardashian’s movements.

The gang's lack of awareness of Kardashian's fame has further fueled intrigue. They represent a stark contrast to the glamorous life Kardashian leads, with crime rooted in the past as they tried—and failed—to modernize their methods. The upcoming trial includes Kardashian as a witness, set to step into the courtroom later this year.

With anticipation surrounding her appearance, the trial promises to combine the spectacle of celebrity culture with a dramatic courtroom narrative involving aging thieves and their escapades in this modern digital landscape.