Pete,

There is clear evidence that the tomb robber profession started concurrent with the first mastaba tombs of pre Dynastic Egypt.

There have been several design changes documented through excavation directly attributed to tomb robbers.

The best known I believe is the change from above ground 'living rooms" of the earliest mastabas which held the grave goods to buried vaults for goods and empty "living rooms".

We have a saying "you can't take it with you"... but the Ae tried to.
It's my humble opinion shortly after the last brick was in place closing tombs the first attempts to break in began.

Jammer