American reality TV star, actress, and entrepreneur Kim Kardashian is ready to testify in a Paris court against the so-called “Grandpa Robbers” — the aging gang that stole $10 million worth of her jewelry in a shocking 2016 heist.
The trial began on April 29 in a Paris criminal court, but Kardashian has only now been able to participate due to her ongoing law studies in California.
The gang members, now mostly in their 60s and 70s, are seasoned criminals — each with multiple past convictions. They claimed they had no idea how famous Kardashian truly was. One of the accused only realized her level of celebrity after his wife saw the heist covered on the news the following day.
The robbery, considered France’s largest theft from a private individual in the past two decades, happened during Paris Fashion Week. Kardashian was staying at the ultra-luxurious Hotel de Pourtalès, a celebrity hotspot with rooms costing up to $17,000 per night.
On October 3, 2016, Kardashian, who was alone in her suite, received a call from someone claiming to be police. On the security monitor, she saw men in uniforms and opened the door — allowing the thieves to rush in. They took the concierge hostage, tied up both him and Kardashian, and ransacked her jewelry boxes. One robber held them at gunpoint while the others stole jewelry, including her 18-carat engagement ring from then-husband Kanye West, valued at around $4 million.
The robbery deeply changed how the Kardashian family shared their lives on social media. Previously, Kim, her mother, and her sisters frequently posted updates about their daily activities. It was through these posts that the robbers learned about the ring.
Although the gang was arrested three months later — thanks in part to the many fingerprints they left at the scene — very few of the stolen items were recovered. Police suspect Kardashian’s driver acted as an informant. The stolen jewelry is believed to have been melted down and sold.
If convicted, most of the elderly defendants face lengthy prison sentences. The trial has taken nearly a decade to reach court due to delays from the COVID-19 pandemic and a backlog of major cases in France’s legal system.
