Thieves Drill into German Bank Vault, Steal Millions in Valuables

During the Christmas holidays, thieves executed a heist at a Sparkasse bank branch in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, stealing valuables estimated between €10 million and €90 million. The perpetrators drilled through a thick concrete wall from an adjacent parking garage into the bank's underground vault, accessing over 3,000 safe deposit boxes.

The break-in was discovered early on December 29 when a fire alarm was triggered, leading police and firefighters to find a hole in the vault's wall and the ransacked deposit boxes. Witnesses reported seeing several men carrying large bags in the parking garage stairwell over the weekend. Security footage showed a black Audi RS 6 with masked individuals leaving the garage early Monday; the vehicle's license plate was traced to a car stolen in Hanover, approximately 200 kilometers northeast of Gelsenkirchen.

The bank remained closed on Tuesday, with around 200 concerned customers gathering outside, seeking information about their deposits. Authorities are investigating the incident, and the suspects remain at large.