Thieves Drill into German Bank Vault, Steal Millions in Valuables

In Gelsenkirchen, Germany, thieves executed a bank heist by drilling into the vault of a Sparkasse savings bank branch, making off with cash, gold, and jewelry valued at around €30 million ($35 million). The perpetrators accessed the underground vault from an adjacent parking garage, breaking into over 3,000 safe deposit boxes.

The break-in was discovered early Monday morning when a fire alarm was triggered, leading emergency services to find a hole in the vault's wall. Witnesses reported seeing several men carrying large bags in the parking garage stairwell over the weekend. Security footage showed a black Audi RS 6 leaving the garage early Monday, with masked individuals inside; the vehicle's license plate had been reported stolen in Hanover.

Police spokesperson Thomas Nowaczyk described the heist as "very professionally executed," comparing it to the film "Ocean's Eleven." He noted that "a great deal of prior knowledge and/or a great deal of criminal energy must have been involved to plan and carry this out."

The bank remained closed on Tuesday, with approximately 200 concerned customers gathering outside seeking information. Police estimated the damage at around €30 million, based on the average insurance value of the safe deposit boxes. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities analyzing forensic evidence and reviewing CCTV footage to identify the suspects.