€10 Million Stolen from Sparkasse Bank Vault in Gelsenkirchen Over Christmas

€10 Million Stolen from Sparkasse Bank Vault in Gelsenkirchen Over Christmas

Thieves exploited the quiet Christmas holiday to break into a branch of Sparkasse Bank in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, stealing at least €10 million, police confirmed on Tuesday.

The suspects drilled through a thick concrete wall to gain access to the bank vault, where they forced open customer safe deposit boxes and made off with the money and valuables.

The crime went undetected until the early hours of Monday, December 29, when a fire alarm alerted authorities to the breach. Most shops and banks in Germany are closed from the evening of December 24 during the holiday season, allowing the robbers to carry out the heist unnoticed.

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According to witnesses, several men carrying large bags were seen moving through the stairwell of a nearby parking garage late on Saturday night. Investigators are also examining reports that a black Audi RS6, with masked occupants, left the garage early Monday morning. The car reportedly had stolen licence plates from Hanover, more than 200 kilometres from Gelsenkirchen.

Angry and anxious customers gathered outside the bank on Tuesday, demanding information about their belongings. One customer, who had used the deposit box for 25 years to store retirement savings, told Welt, “I couldn’t sleep last night. We’re getting no information.” Another reported storing cash and family jewellery in the box.

Police investigations into the massive bank robbery are ongoing.

€10 Million Stolen from Sparkasse Bank Vault in Gelsenkirchen Over Christmas