Kim Kardashian to Cops Thieves Were a Bunch of Amateurs

Kim Kardashian's robbers were rank amateurs ... and it showed from start to finish.

Sources close to Kim tell TMZ ... she told cops the robbers were extremely hesitant and tentative ... whisking her in and out of the bathtub, pointing a gun at her head ... walking away and then pulling the gun again for no apparent reason.

We're also told it seemed to Kim that the robbers were arguing over how to pull off the heist. Remember ... the robbers only spoke French.

As for the robbers mimicking cops ... we're told not even close. The uniforms looked like they came from a Halloween store.

The thieves used a garden-variety backpack to carry the jewels out. But they were extremely careless ... a $33,000 necklace ended up on the street as they made their getaway. And they left zip ties and duct tape behind.

Still ... they got away with it -- for now.

Kim Kardashian Robbery Diamond Cross Found ... Small Change Next to Ring

Kim Kardashian's robbers did NOT make a clean getaway -- they dropped one item, and we've learned the blinged-out piece came straight from famed jeweler, Jacob and Co.

The recovered jewelry is a platinum mounted diamond cross ... according to our sources. Amazingly, a passerby found it on a sidewalk outside the apartment complex the day after the robbery. We're told it's worth $33,180.

Police are checking the pendant for any traces of DNA that could potentially help crack the case.

As we first told you, the robbers made off with a total of 13 items, worth $5.6 million ... and that includes the massive $4 million diamond ring.

Hard to tell if it has enough diamonds to be the actual pendant, but Kim was sporting this cross in Paris just 2 days before the robbery went down.

Kim Kardashian My New Security's Ready for Gun Battle

Kim Kardashian wants to make it clear to anyone who's even thinking of pulling off a heist at her expense ... you could end up dead, because she's amping up her security to Presidential levels.

Sources close to Kim tell us ... her new security detail includes former members of the Secret Service, who will be armed to the teeth.

There will be at least one team of 2 hired muscles (minimum) everywhere she goes. We're also told her car will be "armored."

We're told after the Paris robbery Kim met with some ex-special force members from the Israeli army, ex-CIA agents as well as former Secret Service members. Kanye met with owners of 2 top security firms.

As for Pascal Duvier ... he still has a job.

We're also told Kris Jenner is heavily involved in security meetings, and plans to get protection for Kourtney, Khloe, Kendall and Kylie ... stat. We've heard nothing about Rob.

No word on Kim's code name.

Kim Kardashian Concierge Says I'm a Victim Too Staying Calm Saved Us

Kim Kardashian has no reason to feel suspicious of the concierge who let gunmen into her apartment this week ... so says the concierge himself.

The 40-year-old apartment gatekeeper has written an open letter to Kim, trying to assuage her doubts that he's simply a victim. Kim has made a point of saying the concierge remained almost too calm when confronted by the robbers.

The concierge wrote, "Dear Kim: When you feel the cold steel of a gun at your neck, it is the moment when remaining calm can mean the difference of life or death, both our lives." In the letter, published in Closer magazine, he ends with "I hope you are feeling better."

As we previously reported, Kim turned to the concierge and said, "Are we gonna die?" He responded in a calm voice, "I don't know."

Kim Kardashian My Bling Was the Real Thing

Kim Kardashian is no faker ... we found out the stolen ring at the center of the Paris robbery really was as advertised ... insanely expensive.

Kim showed the ring off frequently, and seemed happy that media outlets were setting the value in the millions. After it was stolen, Paris authorities said it was worth $4.5 million.

Sources familiar with the case tell us ... Kim has already submitted an insurance claim, setting the value of the ring at an even $4 million.

The insurance docs describe the ring in detail ... a 20 carat emerald cut stone.

According to the docs, 13 items were taken, with a total value of $5.6 million ... significantly less than the reported $10 million or $11 million.

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THE BLING
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Kim Kardashian Back on Home Turf ... Totally Low Key

Kim Kardashian is finally back in Los Angeles ... safe and sound with her 2 kids.

Kim cradled Saint -- who's too freakin' adorable -- while her mom, Kris Jenner, carried North off the private jet they took Thursday from NYC to L.A. Looks like Kanye West stayed behind on the east coast ... he's resuming his tour Friday night.

As we first reported, Kim's pulling back on flaunting her wealth -- and she was clearly understated when she touched down.

As much as you can be while stepping off a G4.

Kim Kardashian Pascal Needs Backup ... Call in the Cavalry

Kim Kardashian is pulling out even more big guns for her new security detail ... as if Pascal Duvier wasn't enough mountain of a man.

Kim and Kanye West were seen in public with Saint and North in NYC Thursday morning ... the first time they've been out since the robbery. They were flanked by new men in black ... for increased protection.

Pascal's still in the mix. As we reported ... Kim doesn't blame him for what happened -- but it's obvious she's taking a seriously new approach to keeping herself and her family safe.

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Kim Kardashian Video of Robbers Hits Dead End

There's video of the robbers fleeing Kim Kardashian's Paris apartment alright, but it doesn't show squat ... TMZ has learned.

Paris law enforcement sources tell us ... they have looked frame by frame at video recorded across the street from Kim's apartment, showing images of the robbers fleeing the scene.

The video is not a direct shot ... you see the robbers on a reflection of glass in a shopping area.

Here's what it shows ... the robbers were fleeing on bicycles. Problem is ... there's no way to distinguish any facial features. We're told the images are so blurry you can't even tell if the robbers are still wearing masks.

As for suspects ... we're told cops have their eye on at least one person.

Kim Kardashian My Wealth Won't Be in Your Face Anymore

Kim Kardashian has found God -- at a discount -- because after the robbery wealth will no longer be the driver of her brand.

Sources close to Kim tell us ... she actually agrees with critics who say she put a target on her back by flaunting her wealth and jewelry on social media. A number of people have been critical of Kim for posing with her $4.5 million diamond ring in the apartment shortly before the hit.

We're told Kim is taking a month off work and when she returns she's pulling back in a big way on social media. She won't be displaying her personal wealth ... and she'll even be less ostentatious with the promotion of her fashion line.

Kim has been rocked to her core after being tied up with a gun to her head. She's saying privately ... "Material things mean nothing. It's not all about the money," adding, "It's not worth it."

Kim Kardashian's Bodyguard Wipes Kim From Social Media But NOT Fired

Kim Kardashian's bodyguard just deleted every mention of her from his social media ... including photos and all references to him working for her.

It raises the obvious question -- did Kim and/or Kanye West fire Pascal Duvier? The answer is a resounding ... NO.

Sources close to Kim and Kanye tell us they don't blame Pascal for Kim's robbery. As we've reported, he was guarding Kourtney and Kendall that night. But we're told they don't view that as slacking off ... plus, they just like the guy and trust him implicitly. Pascal's had Kim's back since 2012.

We're told the social media change is a safety measure to block future crooks from connecting him or his whereabouts to Kimye.

Before the scrub, Pascal had a bunch of pics with Kim ... including a reference to the ass kisser takedown. You'll recall, Kim was so impressed with Pascal's swift reaction, she called him a "G."

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I'LL TAKE YOU DOWN

Kim Kardashian Camera May Have Caught Robbers

Kim Kardashian is closer to busting the thieves who broke into her apartment and stole her jewelry, because a CCTV camera reportedly caught a reflection of them in a mirror during their getaway.

Paris cops seized the footage Tuesday morning from the Bel Ange nail salon near Kim's apartment, according to The Sun. A camera inside the store faced a large mirror outside and reportedly got a clear shot of the crooks as they fled through a small retail area.

We spoke with the nail salon owner ... she insists they did not turn over any video to cops, but says the footage might be from another store in the shopping area.

A second camera reportedly caught the robbers as they continued through an unlocked backdoor down a parking lot corridor ... according to European press.

Cops reportedly have collected evidence -- including cigarette butts -- from the shopping center and they're doing DNA tests ... the assumption being the crooks have a record and their DNA is on file.

As we reported, there is no surveillance footage from Kim's apartment.

Kim Kardashian Concierge Key Witness in Robbery

The concierge who was taken up Kim Kardashian's private elevator and opened the door to a $10 million jewelry heist has become the critical witness ... sources connected to the case tell TMZ.

We're told Kim has downloaded Paris cops about her interactions with the concierge. We've learned on Tuesday Kim had an extensive interview with cops by phone and told them the following:

-- The concierge was handcuffed when he opened the door to her apartment.

-- As she put it, "He opened the door and led them [the robbers] up and was in there the whole time."

-- Kim told police she engaged the concierge in conversation, saying, "Are we gonna die?" He calmly responded, "I don't know."

-- Kim, we're told, made a point to cops that the concierge was extremely calm, despite being cuffed and held at gunpoint.

-- Kardashian says when the robbers left the apartment they took the concierge with them and deposited him in the lobby where his hands were still cuffed.

Jennifer Tilly Back from Paris ... Feeling Lucky, Bad for Kim K.

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Jennifer Tilly was in Paris when the Kim Kardashian robbery went down, and she says most of the city ain't exactly reeling after the huge international news.

We got Jennifer at LAX right after her return from Paris. She's not really one to scare easily (umm, see 'Chucky') ... so you can tell she was shaken up when she heard what happened to Kim ... in fact, she feels bad for her.

However, the City of Light? Not so much.

As mademoiselle Tilly puts it ... zee French love zee drama!

Kim K. Robbery Supreme Court Justice Throws Major Shade

Kim Kardashian's armed robbery might be a total fabrication according to a U.S. Supreme Court Justice ... who actually brought up the incident during oral arguments.

The SUPCO was hearing a case on Tuesday where a guy from Cali is arguing it wasn't bank fraud when he drained someone's bank account ... because the bank's money is insured.

Justice Stephen Breyer jumped on the opportunity to show off his pop culture prowess, saying ... "Even Kardashian's thief, if there is one, believes that all that jewelry is insured. So, it's not theft?"

Breyer extended his metaphor, saying even if the Kardashian krooks posed as jewelry cleaners ... "Wouldn't you think that was fraud?" He went on to make a crack about her jewelry possibly being on loan, and not hers at all ... metaphorically speaking.

The good news for Kim -- one of the 8 most powerful people, arguably, in America knows about your ordeal. Unfortunately, he doesn't seem to buy it.

Kim Kardashian Ring Can Be Tracked But Crooks Still Have Upper Hand

Kim Kardashian's confident she'll get back her multi-million dollar ring because it's very rare with unique identifiers.

Sources close to Kim tell TMZ ... she believes if anyone tries to sell the ring they'll find it. The police report she filed includes the diamond's inscription number and other markers that will raise red flags if it ends up on the market.

The Gemological Institute of America says inscribed diamonds have a microscopic number laser-inscripted on the girdle of the stone. Once a police report is filed, any lost diamonds would be flagged in the system, and if they pop up for a cleaning, grading or possible sale ... police are called.

Even if the inscription is scratched off, rings like Kim's can be identified by special internal characteristics of the diamond ... according to the GIA.

It's not foolproof, of course. Big diamonds can be crushed into several pieces so they're less traceable -- and if crooks avoid legit jewelers ... there's less chance anyone reports a run-in with the stolen rock.

Bottom line: Kim needs the thieves to make a dumb move in order to get back the diamond.

Kim Kardashian Cops Come Up Dry on Surveillance Video

The Kim Kardashian robbery will not be solved by fingering the culprits on video ... because a search for surveillance footage has come up dry.

Sources connected to the case tell us ... there was no surveillance video inside or outside the hotel premises.

The only video available is police surveillance footage. Problem is, we're told the camera doesn't face the front of the building and the robbers evaded the lens.

We know police had canvassed the area looking for video from nearby businesses but came up dry.

TMZ has learned only 1 cell phone was stolen from Kim's apartment, not 2 as widely reported. We're told the phone in question did not have "compromising information" and was remotely wiped.