‘Grandpa robbers’ face Kim Kardashian in Paris court nearly a decade after heist

Nearly nine years after the highly publicized robbery of reality TV star Kim Kardashian during Paris Fashion Week in 2016, a Paris court has started hearing the case against ten people who have been called the “grandpa robbers” by French media. The trial began on April 28, 2025, and is expected to continue until May 23. Kardashian is scheduled to testify on May 13.

The robbery, which is considered one of the biggest thefts targeting a single person in France in the last twenty years, happened in the early morning of October 3, 2016. At the time, Kardashian was staying alone in a high-end, secret-location hotel suite. Five armed men, all reportedly over the age of 60, are said to have pretended to be police officers to get inside the building.

According to The Guardian, Kim’s bodyguard was not present because he had gone with her sister, Kourtney Kardashian, to a nightclub after a day of fashion events. Kardashian’s frequent social media posts, where she shared details about her daily life and displayed her expensive jewelry, including a large diamond engagement ring, may have helped the thieves choose her as their target.

Kim Kardashian’s robbers face trail after nearly a decade of waiting

Once inside Kardashian’s suite, the men allegedly held her at gunpoint, tied her up with cables and tape, and covered her mouth before putting her in the bathtub. They stole jewelry worth an estimated 10 million euros, including the 4-million-dollar engagement ring from her then-husband, Kanye West. The thieves also stole diamond bracelets, necklaces, earrings, and other luxury items.

Kardashian later described the horrifying experience, saying she thought she was going to be raped and killed and feared for her life. The entire robbery took less than ten minutes. The investigation that followed led to the arrest of twelve suspects. One of them died last month, and another will have a separate trial due to health issues.

The ten defendants now facing trial are charged with crimes including armed robbery, being part of a criminal group, and kidnapping. Eight of the accused deny having any role in the crime.

Most of the suspects are men in their 60s and 70s who have criminal histories and go by underworld nicknames like “Old Omar” and “Blue Eyes,” which bring to mind classic French gangsters. Prosecutors claim the robbery was carefully planned after meetings in a Paris bar. One of the defendants is Yunice Abbas, 71, who has admitted to taking part in the robbery.