How a holiday hush turned into Germany’s most daring bank robbery
A major bank robbery was uncovered in the German city of Gelsenkirchen after thieves drilled their way into the underground vault of a Sparkasse savings bank branch and stole an estimated €30 million worth of cash, gold and jewellery. Police said the suspects took advantage of the “quiet Christmas days” to execute what they described as a highly professional operation.
According to investigators, the break-in occurred at the Sparkasse branch on Nienhofstrasse in the Buer district. The crime came to light in the early hours of Monday morning when a fire alarm was triggered, prompting police and the fire brigade to search the building. Officers later discovered a large hole drilled into the vault room.
Police said more than 3,000 safe deposit boxes were broken into, with around 95% of all customer compartments forced open. The scale of the theft has left thousands of customers potentially affected. Sparkasse has advised customers to contact the bank through a dedicated hotline and warned that the likelihood of losses is “very high”.
Initial investigations suggest the thieves accessed the bank through an adjacent parking garage and used it as their escape route. Witnesses reported seeing several men carrying large bags in the garage stairwell overnight between Saturday and Sunday. Surveillance footage reportedly shows a black Audi RS 6 leaving the garage early on Monday morning.
German police said no arrests have been made so far and the suspects remain at large. A police spokesperson compared the operation to a Hollywood-style heist, citing the level of planning and execution involved.
Following the incident, the bank branch was closed, and police secured the entrance on Tuesday after large numbers of customers gathered outside seeking information. Some customers expressed distress over the lack of immediate clarity, with one man telling local media that the deposit box contained his retirement savings.
Sparkasse said the contents of each safe deposit box are insured up to €10,300, and customers have been advised to check whether additional coverage applies through their personal home insurance policies. Investigations into the robbery are ongoing as authorities continue to analyse evidence and CCTV footage.