In a daring robbery over the quiet Christmas period, thieves broke into a Sparkasse bank branch in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, and stole valuables worth at least €10 million from customer safe deposit boxes, police confirmed on Tuesday. The heist has left customers shocked and authorities scrambling to investigate one of the country’s largest recent bank thefts.
Heist Carried Out Through Thick Concrete Wall
The perpetrators reportedly drilled through a thick concrete wall at the Sparkasse branch and gained access to the vault. Once inside, they forced open several thousand safe deposit boxes, making off with cash, jewellery, and other valuables. Police estimate the total haul to be in the double-digit millions of euros.
The robbery occurred during the Christmas period, when most German shops and banks remain closed from the evening of December 24. Authorities only discovered the breach early on Monday, December 29, after a fire alarm was triggered inside the bank.
Customers Express Anger and Frustration
Dozens of customers gathered outside the branch on Tuesday, demanding answers from the bank. Many expressed anger and frustration over the lack of information regarding their stolen assets.
“I couldn’t sleep last night. We’re getting no information,” one customer told Welt broadcaster. “I’ve been using this safe for 25 years, and it contained my savings for old age.” Another man said he stored cash and jewellery for his family in his deposit box, leaving him anxious about the heist.
A spokesperson for the Sparkasse bank in Gelsenkirchen did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Police Investigating Suspects and Vehicle Movements
Authorities reported that witnesses saw several men carrying large bags in the stairwell of an adjacent parking garage on Saturday night. A black Audi RS 6, believed to be involved in the robbery, was spotted leaving the garage early Monday morning. The vehicle was reportedly stolen from Hanover, over 200 kilometres northeast of Gelsenkirchen, and contained masked men, according to police.
Police have launched a full investigation, reviewing security footage and following leads on the stolen vehicle. Officials are urging anyone with information to come forward as they attempt to piece together the details of this sophisticated heist.
The scale and precision of the robbery have raised questions about security measures in German banks, especially during holiday periods when branches are unstaffed. Authorities are considering strengthening vault security and increasing surveillance to prevent similar incidents in the future.
As investigations continue, affected customers await news on the recovery of their belongings, while the Gelsenkirchen community remains stunned by the audacity and scale of the crime.
