Thieves Drill into German Bank Vault, Steal Millions in Holiday Heist

During the Christmas holiday period, thieves executed a meticulously planned heist at a Sparkasse bank branch in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, making off with valuables estimated at €30 million. The perpetrators drilled through a thick concrete wall from an adjacent parking garage to access the bank's underground vault, where they forced open over 3,000 safe deposit boxes containing cash, gold, and jewelry.

The break-in was discovered early Monday morning when a fire alarm was triggered, prompting emergency services to respond. Upon arrival, they found a hole in the vault wall and the ransacked deposit boxes. Police believe the thieves used a large drill to penetrate the vault's basement 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 morning with masked individuals inside; the vehicle's license plate had been reported stolen in Hanover.

Approximately 2,700 customers were affected by the theft. Each safe deposit box is insured for €10,300, but many victims reported losses exceeding this amount. The bank has set up a hotline for affected customers and is working with insurers to address compensation claims. The branch remained closed on Tuesday, with hundreds of customers gathering outside seeking information. Police have urged affected individuals to contact the bank directly rather than filing individual complaints.

Authorities have described the heist as highly professional and are continuing their investigation. As of now, no arrests have been made, and the perpetrators remain at large.