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The 2016 Kim Kardashian robbery in Paris remains a captivating case. The morning following the high-profile heist, Yunice Abbas, one of the burglars, returned home seeking rest. He awoke to find his wife engrossed in television coverage detailing the armed robbery of Kim Kardashian, then 35, in a Parisian apartment. The perpetrators made off with jewelry valued at approximately $10 million, including a $4 million engagement ring gifted by her then-husband, Kanye West.
The Aftermath of the Kim Kardashian Heist
Abbas’s wife immediately suspected his involvement, a hunch confirmed by his past involvement in various crimes, ranging from minor offenses to orchestrating bank robberies. Abbas later admitted in his memoir that the Kardashian jewelry heist had been intended as his final criminal act before retirement.
However, missteps plagued the operation from the outset, culminating in the arrest of Abbas and several alleged collaborators in early 2017, a mere three months after the incident.
Now, ten individuals are scheduled to appear in a Paris court for a trial anticipated to span nearly three weeks. Among them, five face charges for direct participation in the Kim Kardashian robbery, while six are accused of acting as accessories.
- Most were born in the 1950s, earning them the moniker “grandpa robbers” in French media.
- Abbas and Aomar Ait Khedache, 68, have confessed, while others maintain their innocence.
- One defendant has since died, and another, 81, will be excused due to advanced dementia.
Almost nine years will have elapsed between the occurrence of the crime and the commencement of the trial.
The Night of the Robbery: Gun-Wielding Robbers and a Traumatized Victim
On the night of October 2-3, 2016, Abbas and four associates allegedly targeted Kardashian’s discreet suite in the Hotel de Pourtalès, situated in the luxurious Madeleine district near the Opéra and Place Vendome. Around 03:00 local time, they stormed the hotel entrance, posing as police officers and brandishing a firearm.
They subdued and handcuffed Abderrahmane Ouatiki, a night receptionist, and escorted him to Kardashian’s room. Kardashian, weary from attending Paris Fashion Week events, was resting when she heard the commotion.
After calling out to her sister and stylist without response, she panicked. A prior interview revealed Kardashian stating, “I knew someone was there to get me… You just feel it.”
Her attempt to dial 911 failed due to the number’s unavailability outside the U.S. As she attempted to contact her security guard, the intruders forced their way in, pushed her onto the bed, and demanded the ring.
The Language Barrier and the Saucissonnage Technique
The language barrier necessitated Ouatiki’s role as an interpreter. The robbers seized the ring, additional jewelry, and 1,000 euros in cash. One of the men grabbed her, leading Kardashian to fear sexual assault, as she was only wearing a robe underneath. Instead, the intruder employed the “saucissonnage” technique, binding her with zip ties and duct tape before leaving her in the bathroom.
The thieves escaped on bicycles and on foot. Kardashian freed herself and was soon after found by her security guard.
Distraught, Kardashian provided a statement to French police and returned to the U.S. at daybreak. It was the following morning when Abbas saw the news on TV that he realized the identity of their target, Kim Kardashian.
According to entertainment journalist KJ Matthews, news alerts underscored the significance of the event, highlighting the armed robbery of Kim Kardashian.
The Heist’s Downfall: A Series of Costly Blunders
KJ Matthews stated, “We were so fascinated…and their rise to fame… When the heist happened we were so surprised. How could burglars have gotten so close to her?”
While security lapses contributed, the thieves themselves made critical errors.
Police Techniques and Haphazard Planning
- Crime reporter Patricia Tourancheau noted that the robbers failed to account for advancements in police techniques, which can now detect microscopic traces of DNA.
- Despite their police disguises, the extensive CCTV network in Paris, still on high alert after the previous year’s terrorist attacks, captured the thieves fleeing with the stolen jewels.
Further evidence suggests disorganized planning. Abbas dropped a bag of jewels while fleeing on a bike. The next day, a passerby found a diamond-encrusted necklace and wore it to the office before realizing its origin upon seeing the news.
Police apprehended Abbas and others in January 2017, confirming they had been under surveillance for weeks following DNA matches at the scene to Aomar Ait Khedache.
Inside Information: Kardashian’s Schedule
The trial will explore how the gang obtained Kardashian’s schedule. Court documents showed Khedache and Abbas stating Kardashian posted online all the information that they needed, as Kardashian built her career on sharing details about her life. Court documents indicate police believe Gary Madar, whose brother Michael’s firm had provided transportation and taxis to the Kardashians for years, was an accessory to the heist and that he had fed information to the gang about Kim’s whereabouts.
Mr. Madar’s lawyer Arthur Vercken denied the accusation, asserting the case relies on assumptions without concrete evidence and that when the heist took place Gary was asleep.
The Fate of the Jewels and Kardashian’s Reaction
The trial seeks to determine the ultimate destination of the stolen jewelry.
Phone tracking revealed that Omar the Old traveled from Paris to Antwerp, Belgium, a global hub for diamond sales, shortly after the robbery. Reports suggest many jewels were subsequently melted down or broken up and sold. Abbas received 75,000 euros, while others received considerably less.
Kim Kardashian’s engagement ring was never recovered since Omar the Old said the gang was too scared to sell it.
The incident deeply affected Kim Kardashian, leading to a hiatus from social media. She has spoken of the robbery, and also claimed the traumatic event made her “less materialistic”.
The Clash of Worlds: “Grandpa Robbers” vs. Social Media Star
Patricia Tourancheau highlighted the contrast between the “old-style burglars” and the “global social media star.” She said that the thieves are not “elite”, they’re “the same kind of people who in the 60s and 70s would burglar banks or post offices”.
Kim Kardashian is expected to testify during the trial. Abbas expressed hope that the victim’s celebrity status would not unduly influence the judges.