How did thieves break into the pyramid?

Answer 1

Thieves would find a small hole or opening and make it bigger with a stone or chizel. Then, when the hole was big enough, they would throw rocks in to make sure there weren't any booby traps nearby. They would then feel their way around with a lighted torch.

Answer 2

The problem of tomb robbers has been apparent from the very time they were built. most of the criminals who desecrated the pyramids for the treasures they contained are nameless. But thanks to the ancient Egyptians love of the written word we can actually name some of them.

For instance one of the earliest tomb robbers whom the Egyptians actually documented was Amenpenefer.

During Pharoah Ramesses IX reign a man called Amenhotep was paid to check out the tomb of Ramasses VI. He did and it was perfect but just four years later a stonemason called Amenpenefer was caught hoarding a large amount of gold was accused of being a tomb robber and was judged by an official called "Paser". Strangely he was released... You have to ask... Did he slip the Paser a portion of the loot? Anyway a few months later 3 other looters were caught tortured, and eventually executed. All of this happened somewhere around 1115 b.c.

The most famous modern tomb robbers were a family called "Abdel-Rassoul of the village of Gurna". It was this family who had spent many years plundering a cache of mummies that had been hidden in the cliffs of the valley of the kings. In the 1960's the family lead by Sheik Ali realised that it was time to come clean and assist the archaeologists rather than rob the tombs.

Finally you have to consider the European adventurers who over the last few hundred years have dug up and looted mummies artefacts and monuments to adorn museums and venues throughout the European continent. The Needles in both London and Paris and the bust of queen Nefertiti in Germany instantly spring to mind.

Discovery, archaology or looting, I leave that consideration to you....