Thieves carried out a highly coordinated bank heist in western Germany, using heavy drilling equipment to break into a vault and steal an estimated €30 million in cash, gold and jewellery, police have said.
The robbery targeted a Sparkasse savings bank branch in the city of Gelsenkirchen, where criminals forced open more than 3,000 safe deposit boxes. A police spokesperson compared the operation to a Hollywood-style crime, describing it as “very professionally executed.”
Authorities were alerted to the break-in during the early hours of Monday when a fire alarm was triggered inside the building. Investigators believe the thieves took advantage of the quiet Christmas period to carry out the crime undetected.
According to police, the suspects accessed the bank through a neighboring parking garage and escaped the same way. Witnesses reported seeing several men carrying large bags through the garage stairwell late Saturday night into Sunday morning. Surveillance footage later captured a black Audi RS 6 leaving the garage early on Monday.
The hole drilled into the underground vault was discovered after emergency services searched the premises following the alarm. No arrests have been made, and the suspects remain at large.
Sparkasse said approximately 95% of the branch’s safe deposit boxes were broken into, meaning most customers are likely affected. The bank has established a hotline for impacted clients and confirmed the branch would remain closed while investigations continue.
The bank added that the contents of each deposit box are insured up to €10,300, advising customers to review their home insurance policies for additional coverage.
Police have secured the area and continue to investigate the robbery.
