The morning after the shocking theft at a luxury apartment in Paris, burglar Yunice Abbas was oblivious to the chaos he had caused. As he rested at home, his wife was transfixed by news of the robbery involving American reality star Kim Kardashian. Dressed as policemen, Abbas and his gang tied up Kardashian, who lost jewelry valued at $10 million, including a $4 million engagement ring from rapper Kanye West.
Despite years of crime, Abbas, 62, did not recognize the significance of their target until he saw her face plastered across television screens. The robbery was intended as his last job, but his haphazard approach led to his arrest just months later. Now, ten of those involved are set to face trial in Paris, where five face direct robbery charges and others are accused of being accessories.
Dubbed the "grandpa robbers" by the French press, many were born in the 1950s and share a history of petty crime. The trial is notable for the stark contrast between the elderly thieves and the world of fame and luxury that Kardashian represents.
On the night of October 2, 2016, the gang staked out Kardashian's hotel, launching their attack around 3 AM. Kardashian, who was unwittingly alone in her room, found herself restrained and terrified as they demanded her valuables. After the robbers fled on foot and bikes, she managed to free herself and alerted her security guard.
While Kardashian's life was significantly affected, leading to a hiatus from social media and increased security, the thieves also dropped the ball. Abbas famously fell during their escape, leaving behind a bag of jewels. Their planning lacked finesse, leading to their DNA being traced and ultimately to their downfall when police, already surveilling them, made arrests in early 2017.
Questions loom over how the gang learned of Kardashian’s schedule, with suspicions centering around people in her circle, including former drivers. The jewels' final resting place remains uncertain, while the notorious engagement ring has never been recovered.
As the trial unfolds, Kardashian is expected to testify, reigniting media frenzy around the case and underscoring the complex intersections of crime, celebrity, and society's fascination with both. In his memoir, Abbas anticipates judicial bias due to Kardashian’s fame but prepares to accept the consequences of his actions, reflecting on how past decisions reverberate through life.
