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The High-Profile Heist: Kim Kardashian’s Paris Robbery
The following morning after the robbery, burglar Yunice Abbas returned home to rest. When he finally woke up, he found his wife transfixed by the television. The breaking news reported that American reality TV star Kim Kardashian had been held at gunpoint and robbed in a luxurious Paris apartment.
The thieves had stolen jewelry valued at approximately $10 million (£7.5 million), including an engagement ring gifted by her ex-husband, rapper Kanye West, worth $4 million (£3 million). Abbas’s wife looked at him suspiciously, exclaiming, “This has you written all over it.”
Indeed, the 62-year-old had a history of criminal activity, ranging from minor offenses to significant bank robberies. He later claimed in a memoir that this robbery would be his final career move before retiring.
However, a string of mistakes rendered the heist a failure, leading to the arrest of Abbas and several accomplices just months later, in early 2017.
Trial of the “Grandpa Robbers”
The upcoming trial in Paris is set to last about three weeks, where ten individuals will face charges. Among them, five are accused of direct involvement in the heist, while the rest are facing accessory charges. Most of these alleged criminals were born in the 1950s, leading local media to label them as the “grandpa robbers.”
Abbas and one of his accomplices, Aomar Ait Khedache, aged 68, have confessed to their involvement, while the others have remained silent. One suspect has passed away, and another is deemed unfit for trial due to dementia. By the time the trial occurs, nearly nine years will have elapsed since the crime.
The Night of the Heist
On the night of October 2-3, 2016, Abbas and four accomplices allegedly monitored Kardashian’s discreet suite at the Hotel de Pourtalès in Paris’s upscale Madeleine area. Around 3:00 AM, they burst into the hotel’s entrance, impersonating police officers and brandishing a firearm.
They overpowered and handcuffed the night receptionist, Abderrahmane Ouatiki, forcing him to lead them to Kardashian’s room. Exhausted from attending Paris Fashion Week events, Kardashian was resting in bed when she heard the commotion upstairs. She tried to call out for her sister and stylist but received no response, causing her to panic.
“I knew someone was there to get me,” she later told David Letterman in an interview. “You just feel it.” As she attempted to dial 911—only to realize it wouldn’t work in France—she was interrupted as the men burst into her room, shouting for her ring.
Ouatiki had to serve as a translator during the terrifying ordeal. The intruders took the ring, various other jewels, and cash, before binding Kardashian with zip ties and duct tape and leaving her locked in the bathroom. They fled the scene on foot and bicycles. After freeing herself, Kardashian was met by her security guard, who soon arrived.
The Aftermath and Mistakes
The next day, Abbas learned of the dramatic robbery while watching television, shocked to find out their victim was Kardashian. Entertainment journalist KJ Matthews noted that the public was astonished by the audacity of the burglars being able to get so close to Kardashian.
While Kardashian’s security measures had their flaws, the burglars made significant errors as well. Patricia Tourancheau, a crime reporter and author, highlighted that they underestimated advancements in police forensic techniques, including the ability to detect minute DNA traces.
In a city still unsettled by previous terror attacks, numerous CCTV cameras captured the thieves’ escape, providing vital evidence. Abbas himself had an accident during the getaway, dropping a bag of jewels. A passerby found and wore one of the stolen necklaces for a day before realizing its origin.
Connections and Possible Involvement
In January 2017, Abbas was apprehended along with several associates, following DNA evidence matching Ait Khedache. French media later released photographs showing some of the suspects casually dining at a café days prior to their arrest.
The circumstances surrounding how the thieves became aware of Kardashian’s schedule are still unclear. Court documents indicate that Khedache and Abbas claimed they obtained necessary details from Kardashian’s public social media posts. However, there remains uncertainty about how they knew she would be alone in her hotel room that particular night.
Investigators suspected Gary Madar, who had provided transportation for the Kardashians, of being an accessory to the crime. His brother, Michael, defended him by stating that any text conversations about the Kardashians were merely casual banter, further asserting that Gary was asleep during the robbery.
The Fate of the Stolen Valuables
The trial will also delve into the whereabouts of the stolen jewels. After the robbery, Ait Khedache reportedly traveled to Antwerp, Belgium, a major hub for diamond sales, shortly after the heist. Many items were believed to have been melted down or sold, with Abbas reportedly receiving only €75,000 (£64,000) from his share.
The infamous engagement ring has never been recovered, with Ait Khedache admitting that the gang was too frightened to attempt selling it due to its distinctive nature. Kardashian herself felt the shadows of the incident haunting her, prompting a temporary withdrawal from social media.
In a future episode of *Keeping Up With the Kardashians*, she tearfully recounted the harrowing experience, expressing it had transformed her outlook on material possessions. Following the event, Kardashian’s family significantly adjusted their social media practices and tightened security measures.
A Clash of Worlds
Tourancheau remarked on the striking contrast between the aging burglars and the glamorous lifestyle of the celebrity they targeted. She pointed out the absurdity of elderly thieves attempting to rob a young social media star who travels in private jets.
As the trial unfolds, Kardashian will make her first appearance in years to testify as a witness. While media coverage will likely intensify, the outcomes of this high-profile case raise questions about celebrity culture and criminal activity.
In his memoir, Abbas expressed hope that the media attention would not unduly influence the legal proceedings. Still, he acknowledged that he was prepared for the possibility of incarceration, reflecting, “The problem with the past is that it sticks with you as long as you live.”
Source
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