GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany — A meticulously planned bank heist has rocked western Germany after a criminal gang breached the high-security vault of a Sparkasse retail bank branch in Gelsenkirchen, escaping with cash and valuables worth at least €10 million (10 million euros), authorities confirmed Tuesday.
The burglary, which targeted thousands of private safe deposit boxes, is now being described by investigators as one of the most sophisticated financial crimes in the region in recent years.
According to police, the perpetrators drilled through a reinforced concrete wall from a neighboring building, carefully avoiding detection while gaining direct access to the bank’s vault area.
The operation unfolded during the Christmas holiday shutdown, when most German businesses and financial institutions suspend operations from the evening of December 24 until after the weekend—creating a rare security gap.
The breach remained unnoticed for several days until early Monday, December 29, when a fire alarm was triggered inside the bank—possibly caused by drilling equipment, dust, or heat from the tools used in the operation.
Customers in shock as losses emerge
By Tuesday morning, dozens of distressed customers gathered outside the sealed branch demanding answers and access to their deposit boxes. Police were forced to secure the perimeter as emotions escalated.
Witnesses reported protesters chanting, “Let us in!”, while visibly shaken account holders shared their fears with local media.
“I couldn’t sleep all night,” one customer told this publication. “I have kept my box there for 25 years. That was my retirement.”
Another victim said his box contained family jewelry and cash intended for future generations, adding that the lack of official information had deepened public anxiety.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Sparkasse had not yet issued a formal statement on compensation or liability.
Suspects and escape route
Investigators are now reconstructing the gang’s movements using forensic evidence and witness testimony.
Police confirmed that several individuals were seen late Saturday night in a nearby parking garage carrying large bags into a stairwell connected to the bank’s structure.
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In a major development, a black Audi RS 6 was observed fleeing the area early Monday morning. The vehicle was equipped with license plates stolen from a car in Hanover, more than 200 kilometers away—indicating the gang may have coordinated across federal states to conceal their trail.
Massive investigation underway
Forensic teams remain on-site while the bank stays closed as authorities assess the full extent of the losses. Each affected customer must now individually declare the contents of their safe deposit box—an arduous process that could take weeks.
German authorities have not ruled out the involvement of an organized international crime network, citing the technical precision of the breach, the scale of the theft, and the cross-regional logistics involved.
“This was not an opportunistic crime,” a senior investigator said. “This was a professional operation.”
The case has already been escalated to federal-level coordination units as police work to track the suspects and recover the stolen assets.
