Didier Dubreucq, one of the men dubbed the “Grandpa Robbers” involved in the 2016 jewellery heist targeting reality TV star Kim Kardashian in Paris, has died at the age of 69. His death comes approximately one month after he and seven accomplices were convicted for their roles in the high-profile robbery.
Known by the nickname “Blue Eyes,” Dubreucq had been battling lung cancer, a diagnosis he received while held in pre-trial detention. He had been undergoing chemotherapy treatment for the illness.
Conviction and Sentencing Outcome
In May 2025, a Paris court found Dubreucq and seven others guilty in connection with the audacious theft that occurred nearly a decade ago. While ten suspects were initially tried, eight, including Dubreucq, were ultimately convicted.
Despite being accused by police of being the second person to enter Kardashian’s luxury residence during the raid, Dubreucq consistently maintained his innocence throughout the legal process. During his testimony in April, following a chemotherapy session, he stated it was a “mistaken identity case” and that he had “nothing to do with this.” He even sent a letter after the verdict, read by his lawyer, reiterating his denial and expressing empathy for the victims’ trauma, hoping they would find “the path to healing.” Dubreucq had a past history, having served a significant 23-year sentence for previous armed robberies, but claimed he had changed his life after becoming a father at 50, insisting he was a “good guy.”
Dubreucq was sentenced to seven years in prison, with five years suspended. Due to his health issues and ongoing chemotherapy, he was notably absent from both the verdict announcement on May 23rd and the subsequent sentencing.
Crucially, Dubreucq did not return to prison following his conviction. He had already spent two years in pre-trial detention, which fulfilled the non-suspended portion of his sentence. Similarly, other convicted individuals in the case, some receiving sentences up to eight years (mostly suspended), also avoided returning to jail due to time already served. The presiding Judge David De Pas commented when delivering the verdict that the “state of health of the main protagonists ethically prohibits incarcerating anyone” at that time, describing the sentences as “quite lenient” given the severity of the crime, but emphasizing the fear the perpetrators “caused.”
Reliving the Terrifying Paris Heist
The robbery took place during Paris Fashion Week in October 2016 at Kardashian’s rented penthouse in a private luxury residence. The court heard harrowing details of the 49-minute ordeal during the three-week trial. Kim Kardashian testified, recounting how two men disguised as police officers entered her room while she was alone. She was held at gunpoint, bound and gagged “like a sausage,” and placed in the bath.
During her testimony, Kardashian described the event as profoundly traumatic. She stated her fear that she “would be shot dead on the bed” and was “certain that was the moment that he was going to rape me.” She also initially believed the attack might have been “some sort of terrorist attack.”
The group, nicknamed the “Grandpa Robbers” partly due to the advanced age of some key members like alleged ringleader Aomar Ait Khedache (68 at the time of the robbery) and Yunice Abbas (72), stole approximately $10 million (£7.5m – £8.5m) worth of jewellery. This included the estimated $4 million (£3m) engagement ring gifted to Kardashian by her then-husband, rapper Kanye West. One of the robbers reportedly dropped a valuable platinum cross adorned with diamonds while fleeing, which was later recovered. Visibly traumatised, Kardashian fled the country immediately after the incident.
Following the guilty verdicts, Kim Kardashian issued a statement describing the crime as the “most terrifying experience of my life,” which left a “lasting impact on me and my family.” She expressed relief at the legal resolution and gratitude to the French authorities, while also stating her belief in “growth and accountability” and praying for “healing for all.” She affirmed she would “never forget what happened” but remained committed to “advocating for justice, and promoting a fair legal system.”
Dubreucq’s death marks a poignant postscript to the complex and delayed legal case surrounding one of the most shocking celebrity robberies in recent history. Delays in bringing the case to trial were reportedly influenced by the prioritization of high-profile terrorist cases and concerns about potential negative publicity ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
