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The Robbery
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"The Robbery"
Seinfeld episode
Episode no.Season 1
Episode 3
Directed byTom Cherones
Written byMatt Goldman
Production code104
Original air dateJune 7, 1990 (1990-06-07)
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
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"Male Unbonding"
Seinfeld season 1
List of episodes

"The Robbery" is the third episode of the first season of the American television sitcom Seinfeld.[1] It first aired on NBC in the United States on June 7, 1990.[2] It was written by Matt Goldman, making this the first Seinfeld episode not written by series creators Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David.[3]

In the episode, George and Elaine try to sell Jerry on leasing a new apartment. Meanwhile, Jerry's apartment is burglarized after Kramer leaves the front door open. George shows Jerry an apartment so ideal that he starts regretting the offer, while Elaine jumps the gun on planning her move into Jerry's apartment.

Plot

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Elaine is watching Jerry's apartment while he goes on tour in Minneapolis. Jerry briefs her on the apartment's defects and eccentricities, and George adds even more. George offers to show Jerry an Upper West Side apartment next to Central Park. Elaine hopes to move into Jerry's apartment and escape her roommate, who noisily practices for a production of A Chorus Line at all hours.

Jerry has no time to consider the offer before heading out. He returns to find his TV, VCR, and other valuables stolen, because, while Elaine was out, Kramer left the front door wide open to borrow a spatula, then forgot to come back while watching The Bold and the Beautiful. Since Jerry bought a secure lock instead of insurance, he has no theft coverage. Kramer vows to find the stolen goods, but Jerry expects nothing as he files a police report.

When George finds Jerry's lobby door not locking, Jerry decides to see the other apartment. Everyone—even George—is surprised to find a fireplace, garden, natural lighting, and a walk-in closet. Jerry imagines hiring many helpers he will need to tip, but decides to move in. Elaine, already planning her move into Jerry's place, drives a hard bargain to buy his couch.

George, now thoroughly regretful, offers to take the new apartment in case Jerry gets cold feet. Neither wants to take the apartment away from the other, while Elaine wants either of them to vacate. After they flip a coin, Jerry plays "choose" for it, and wins the apartment to George's great disappointment. Kramer baselessly suspects a neighbor from England was the thief, and begins hassling the man.

At Monk's Café, George still can't let the apartment go, and he and Jerry finally back out together. A waitress overhears and ends up leasing the apartment, inviting them and Elaine to her housewarming. Elaine is still stuck with her roommate after hastily renting a U-Haul and throwing out her own couch. All three mope as they learn of the many benefits the new tenants have reaped from the apartment. In their dejection, they overhear someone else giving up his apartment, and all inquire at once.

Production

[edit]

"The Robbery" was written by Matt Goldman, making this episode the first not to be written by Jerry Seinfeld or Larry David and the only one not written by Seinfeld and David for the first production season.[3] The idea for the episode was inspired by Seinfeld's own experiences of his apartment being robbed when he was a student, although rather than the door being unlocked as it was in the episode, the burglars broke through the walls.[3][4] David was given a $20,000 bonus by Castle Rock and was promoted to executive producer for his work on the episode.[5] During the shooting of the episode, an earthquake struck the set, but no one was hurt.[6]

The episode is the first to mention the character of Tina, Elaine's actress roommate, although she does not appear in this episode. It is also the first episode to feature Kramer making a sliding entrance into Jerry's apartment, which became a trademark in all the later episodes. Carolyn the waitress, played by Anita Wise, and her husband Larry, are named after Seinfeld's own sister and brother-in-law.[3]

In the original draft of the script, the Englishman is called "Berbick." In the same script, Elaine asks Jerry what happened between Kramer and the Englishman. Jerry replies, "Kramer stayed there three hours. They're like best friends now."[3]

Reception

[edit]

When "The Robbery" first aired on June 7, 1990, it received a Nielsen rating of 13.6/24. This means that the episode was watched by 13.6% of American households, and that 24% of all televisions in use at the time were tuned into it.[3]

Reviews of the episode were mixed. Andy Patrizio from IGN.com wrote that "The Robbery" was the best episode of the first season of Seinfeld, saying that it showed "the dynamics that would come to define the show."[7] However, Colin Jacobson for DVD Movie Guide said, "It lacks the great banter and play that marks the best episodes, but it doesn't come across as a total dud. It just seems a bit uninspired in the greater scheme of things."[8]

References

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The Robbery

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The 2025 Louvre robbery was a high-profile art heist that took place on October 19, 2025, at the Museum in , , during which a group of thieves stole nine pieces of historic jewelry from the museum's Apollo Gallery in under eight minutes, using industrial tools and a ladder-equipped to breach security while the museum was open to visitors. The stolen items, part of 's collection dating back to the , included a sapphire necklace and earrings gifted by I to his second wife Marie-Louise, a and belonging to Empress Eugénie, and a along with additional jewelry set with hundreds of diamonds and sapphires, collectively valued at approximately $102 million. One item, Eugénie's diamond and emerald crown containing 1,354 diamonds and 56 emeralds, was dropped and damaged during the escape but recovered at the scene. The robbery unfolded rapidly between 9:30 a.m. and 9:38 a.m., just 30 minutes after the opened, when the perpetrators—disguised as workers—arrived in a with an extendable ladder, scaled it to access a second-floor , and used an to cut through a before smashing display cases with hammers. Alarms activated immediately, but the thieves fled on motorbikes, abandoning their vehicle and attempting (but failing) to set it ablaze, highlighting significant security vulnerabilities in one of the 's most visited cultural institutions. French authorities, deploying around 60 investigators, quickly linked the to an organized group from the region through DNA, fingerprints, and forensic analysis of left-behind tools, leading to the arrest of four suspects as of November 2025, including two men in their 30s apprehended on October 25, 2025, at ; three believed to be directly involved remain in custody, one has been released under judicial supervision, though at least one additional suspect remains . The stolen items were added to Interpol's Stolen Works of database on October 21, 2025. On January 17, 2026, the Paris top prosecutor stated that the probe's main objective remains to recover the jewellery. This incident marked a concerning escalation in museum heists, shifting toward bold, daytime "smash-and-grab" operations targeting high-value, easily dismantled gems rather than paintings, as thieves prioritize liquidity on the over cultural preservation. Experts have criticized the Louvre's as a "major weak spot," noting that while the balances public access with protection, the use of force during operating hours endangered visitors and staff, prompting French Culture Minister to summon the Louvre's director for questioning and Gérald Darmanin to call for enhanced protocols across cultural sites; on November 7, 2025, the Louvre announced a €85 million master plan in response. The theft not only stripped of irreplaceable symbols of its imperial heritage—housed in the Apollo Gallery since 1661—but also sparked debates on the adequacy of global defenses against increasingly sophisticated , with fears of copycat crimes in the wake of similar recent heists in .

Episode Overview

Synopsis

"The Robbery" is the third episode of the first season of the American sitcom , which originally aired on on June 7, 1990. In the episode, returns to his apartment to discover it has been burglarized, with several valuables including his TV, stereo, VCR, computer, leather jacket, and answering machine stolen; the break-in occurs because his neighbor Kramer had left the door open while borrowing a spatula from 's apartment for cooking and getting distracted by . Disheartened by the invasion of his personal space and the logistical challenges of filing police reports and insurance claims, decides to relocate and begins apartment hunting with his friend , who has also grown dissatisfied with his own cramped living situation. The duo soon competes for the same desirable, spacious sublet apartment on the , leading to a series of escalating one-upmanship tactics as each tries to outmaneuver the other—George emphasizes his need for a place to entertain dates, while Jerry highlights his celebrity status as a . Meanwhile, , Jerry's ex-girlfriend and friend, expresses interest in taking over Jerry's current apartment if he moves out, to escape her noisy roommate, adding further tension to the rivalry; the episode explores themes of friendship strained by self-interest and the absurdities of urban living in . Kramer, ever the opportunistic neighbor, attempts to insert himself into the situation by promising to help recover the stolen items through his own investigation.

Main Cast

The principal cast of "The Robbery" consists of the core ensemble that defines the early seasons of Seinfeld, each portraying their signature roles in this episode centered on themes of and tested by personal gain.
ActorCharacterRole Description
A stand-up comedian whose is burglarized while he is out of town, leading him to consider relocating and sparking a competition among his friends for the ideal living space. His pragmatic yet self-interested nature drives the plot as he weighs the pros and cons of change.
Julia Louis-DreyfusJerry's former girlfriend and close friend, who wants to take over Jerry's if he moves, to escape her noisy roommate, highlighting her desire for a quieter living situation.
Jerry's neurotic best friend, who discovers a desirable sublet but initially offers it to Jerry before reversing course out of envy, exemplifying his insecure and personality traits.
The quirky neighbor whose careless act of leaving Jerry's door open enables the burglary; his eccentric, free-spirited demeanor provides as he remains largely oblivious to the consequences.

Supporting Cast

Supporting roles in the episode include several guest actors who interact with the main characters during the apartment viewing and investigation scenes, adding layers to the narrative of urban living and minor misfortunes.
  • Anita Wise portrays the Waitress (credited as Carol in the script), a friendly seller eager to offload her spacious apartment to Jerry and his friends, facilitating the central temptation of the sublet.
  • James F. Dean plays Larry, the Waitress's supportive husband, who enthusiastically endorses the apartment sale and engages in light banter with the prospective tenants.
  • Kimberley Kates appears as Diane, a masseuse and neighbor in the building, whose profession and proximity make the apartment appealing during the tour.
  • Bradford English is the Cop, a straightforward police officer who takes Jerry's burglary report and inquires about the missing items, underscoring the episode's low-stakes crime element.
Minor characters, such as David Blackwood as Man #1 and George C. Simms as Man #2, appear briefly in group scenes discussing the robbery's impact, representing typical New Yorkers affected by urban crime.

Production

Development

The episode "The Robbery" was developed as one of four additional scripts commissioned by after the pilot aired, allowing the series to expand its first season beyond the initial test episode. Written by Matt Goldman, it marked the first Seinfeld installment not authored by Jerry Seinfeld or , introducing an external writer's perspective to the show's early . The core premise drew directly from Seinfeld's personal of being robbed in his New York apartment during his student years, though the episode adapted the details—depicting an entry via an unlocked door rather than the actual break-in through a . Larry David played a key role in refining the script, providing substantial revisions that enhanced its structure and humor, which led to him receiving a $20,000 bonus and elevation to status.

Filming

for "The Robbery" took place primarily at Ren-Mar Studios, located at 846 North in , . This facility served as the production hub for the first four episodes of Seinfeld's inaugural season, including interiors for key sets such as Jerry's ransacked , Elaine's residence, the police station interrogation room, and Pete's Luncheonette—the diner featured in season 1 before it was rebranded as in later episodes. The studio's soundstages allowed for efficient multi-camera filming typical of sitcoms, with director overseeing all principal scenes to capture the episode's ensemble dynamics and comedic timing. Limited exterior shots, including the facade of the two-bedroom apartment that Jerry and George vie for, were filmed on location in neighborhoods selected to evoke New York City's . These sequences were shot using practical locations to simulate the urban environment of the show's setting, though budget constraints for the low-rated early season meant no on-location filming occurred in New York. Cherones, who directed every episode of season 1, emphasized natural performances during these brief outdoor takes, contributing to the episode's grounded feel amid the burglary chaos. The production adhered to a standard weekly sitcom schedule, with filming completed in a single block alongside the other initial episodes before the show's full-season pickup. No major on-set incidents or reshoots were reported for "The Robbery," reflecting the relatively straightforward script by Matt Goldman, which focused on dialogue-driven scenes rather than elaborate action. This approach aligned with Seinfeld's early ethos of observational humor, minimizing technical complexities in favor of character interactions.

Reception and Legacy

Media Coverage

The 2025 Louvre robbery received extensive immediate media attention worldwide, dominating headlines in the days following the October 19 incident due to its audacity during museum operating hours. French outlets like and reported on the rapid seven-minute heist, emphasizing the thieves' use of industrial tools and the recovery of one damaged item. International coverage from , , and highlighted the €88 million (approximately $102 million) value of the stolen Napoleonic-era jewels, with minute-by-minute breakdowns amplifying public fascination. By late October 2025, coverage shifted to investigative updates, including the arrests of seven suspects linked to in the region, with two partially admitting involvement as of October 29. amplified the story, with viral videos of the escape and debates on security footage gaps, contributing to heightened global awareness of museum vulnerabilities. As of November 2025, ongoing reports from and ABC News focused on forensic leads and the risks for the stolen gems.

Critical Response

The robbery drew sharp criticism from experts, politicians, and auditors for exposing systemic security flaws at the , the world's most visited museum. France's of Auditors released a November 6, 2025, report labeling the incident a "deafening ," revealing years of delayed security upgrades in favor of art acquisitions and insufficient external camera coverage. Director admitted to "insufficient" surveillance on October 23, prompting French Culture Minister to summon her for questioning and Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin to advocate nationwide protocol enhancements. Cross-party ire and union complaints highlighted persistent delays in security staffing and training shifts, with Justice Minister stating "we have failed" on cultural protection. Experts in outlets like and described the heist as a "worrying escalation" in daytime smash-and-grabs, critiquing the balance between public access and protection, and suggesting models for better perimeter defenses. The (ICOM) echoed calls for global reevaluation of heritage site safeguards post-heist.

Cultural Impact

The theft has profoundly affected perceptions of French imperial heritage, stripping the Apollo Gallery—housing the jewels since —of irreplaceable Napoleonic and Eugénie-era symbols, valued not just monetarily but for their . Commentators, including Stanford's Cécile Alduy, noted it unmasks ongoing debates on cultural extraction, with some viewing the heist as ironic "justice" for France's colonial spoils, akin to calls for artifacts in Western museums. It marks a shift in art crime toward "cultural terrorism" targeting liquid assets like gems over paintings, joining recent European heists and raising fears of copycats amid organized crime's sophistication. The incident has sparked broader discussions on museum ethics, with reporting political fallout for the Ministry and potential reforms to prevent future breaches. As of November 2025, the stolen jewels' fame may rival icons like the , while underscoring vulnerabilities in balancing accessibility with preservation.

References

  1. https://abcnews.go.com/International/thieves-robbed-louvre-minutes-minute-minute-breakdown-daring/story?id=126719610
  2. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/oct/20/louvre-museum-robbery-thieves-stolen-jewellery
  3. https://www.interpol.int/en/News-and-Events/News/2025/Louvre-Museum-theft-Stolen-jewels-added-to-INTERPOL-s-Stolen-Works-of-Art-database
  4. https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20260117-louvre-heist-probe-still-aims-to-recover-jewellery-top-prosecutor-says
  5. https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/20/style/france-louvre-heist-worrying-escalation-intl-hnk
  6. https://news.artnet.com/art-world/louvre-robbery-2701689
  7. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0697768/
  8. https://www.seinfeldscripts.com/TheRobbery.htm
  9. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0697768/characters/nm0441236
  10. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0697768/characters/nm0257588
  11. https://www.tvweek.com/in-depth/2001/11/how-seinfeld-broke-the-mold/
  12. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0697768/trivia/
  13. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0697768/locations/
  14. https://www.seeing-stars.com/Studios/RenMar.shtml
  15. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0697768/fullcredits
  16. https://thecinemaholic.com/where-was-seinfeld-filmed/
  17. https://www.france24.com/en/france/20251106-deafening-wake-up-call-france-s-highest-audit-court-slams-louvre-security-in-critical-report
  18. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/oct/20/louvre-heist-pressure-french-government-museum-security-paris
  19. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c93dj92d5y0o
  20. https://www.ktre.com/2025/10/29/paris-prosecutor-says-2-suspects-louvre-jewel-heist-partially-admit-their-participation/
  21. https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/11/03/have-security-guards-shifting-remits-left-louvre-vulnerable-to-heist
  22. https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/robbery-louvre-museum-hit-frances-image-justice-minister-says-2025-10-20/
  23. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-07/louvre-security-flaws-years-report-finds/105982046
  24. https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/10/23/louvre-director-admits-insufficient-camera-coverage-after-heist-0116
  25. https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/10/20/louvre-heist-sparks-ire-amid-reports-of-persistent-delays-security-updates
  26. https://www.forbes.com/sites/edwardsegal/2025/11/11/crisis-prevention-lessons-from-the-robbery-at-the-louvre/
  27. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20251030-louvre-robbery-the-50-year-old-maths-problem-that-can-boost-museum-security
  28. https://icom.museum/en/news/the-challenges-of-museum-security/
  29. https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2025/10/louvre-jewelry-heist-french-culture-impact-france-cecile-alduy
  30. https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2025/10/23/why-the-louvre-heist-feels-like-justice-but
  31. https://www.michigandaily.com/opinion/columns/the-louvre-heist-unmasks-cultural-extraction/
  32. https://globalinitiative.net/analysis/louvre-cultural-heritage-criminal-currency/
  33. https://www.lemonde.fr/en/culture/article/2025/10/21/after-lightning-louvre-heist-museum-management-and-culture-ministry-feel-heat_6746635_30.html
  34. https://www.whas11.com/article/syndication/associatedpress/the-100-million-louvre-theft-could-make-frances-stolen-crown-jewels-as-famous-as-the-mona-lisa/616-29ee9da7-193c-40b7-b3ce-4fb6961df8c9
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