"Trial of the 'Grandpa Robbers' Begins: Recall of Kim Kardashian's Infamous Heist"

Sat Feb 07 2026 02:48:50 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

"The court case concerning the robbery of Kim Kardashian in 2016 by a group of elderly thieves starts in Paris, revealing insights into their blunders and the celebutante's harrowing experience."

"The trial of the group nicknamed the 'grandpa robbers,' who held Kim Kardashian at gunpoint in 2016, starts this week in Paris. The elderly thieves, some of whom have confessed, are accused of a blundering heist that has since spurred widespread media interest."

In the wake of one of the most notorious celebrity heists in recent history, the trial of the group dubbed the "grandpa robbers" is set to unfold in Paris, eight years after they allegedly held reality star Kim Kardashian at gunpoint. The incident, which rattled the world of glamour and privacy, saw Kardashian's luxury jewels, valued at around $10 million, stolen from her suite in a Paris hotel during Fashion Week.

Yunice Abbas, aged 62, the ringleader of the band, confessed that the robbery was intended to be his final act before retiring. Unbeknownst to him at the time, the heist would be fraught with errors that eventually led to his arrest alongside several accomplices in 2017. The group consists mainly of men born in the 1950s, leading French media to label them as the "grandpa robbers," reflecting their surprising approach to crime.

On the night of the robbery, Abbas and his cohorts, disguised as police officers, stormed into Kardashian's hotel, brandishing weapons and demanding her jewelry. The reality star, alone in her room and fearful for her safety, attempted to call for help, but her security guard was out at a club with her sister. The robbers, using zip ties to restrain her, left her trapped while they fled with a bagful of extravagant items.

The details that have emerged surrounding the heist reveal both the robbers' incompetence and Kardashian's vulnerability. After the crime, Abbas's realization of who he had victimized dawned on him only when he returned home to find his wife engrossed in the news. Despite the chaos surrounding the robbery, it became clear that the criminals had underestimated the security measures available to law enforcement at that time, which ultimately worked against them.

As the trial commences, the court will not only examine the roles of Abbas and his accomplices but also play out the extraordinary juxtaposition of a group of aging thieves confronting a global superstar. Kardashian is expected to testify, adding an emotional dimension to proceedings that have been likened to a drama pulled straight from a film. The question of how much the heist was coordinated by insiders—possibly a driver familiar with Kardashian's routine—remains under scrutiny.

The trial, expected to last nearly three weeks, has drawn international interest as it promises to unfold further insights into celebrity culture's interaction with ordinary crime, alongside the enduring impact the robbery had on Kardashian’s life, leading her to a more cautious and private lifestyle in its aftermath.