Thieves Steal €30 Million from German Bank, Police Say
Thieves broke into a Sparkasse bank vault in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, stealing €30 million in cash and valuables, prompting a major police investigation.
German police said thieves carried out a major burglary targeting the vault of a Sparkasse bank branch in the western city of Gelsenkirchen, stealing assets valued at around €30 million. Hundreds of worried customers later gathered outside the bank seeking information.
The incident occurred early Sunday morning, but concern intensified over the past day as details of the theft emerged. Authorities confirmed that multiple safety deposit boxes inside the bank’s vault were forcibly opened.
Police said the building’s fire alarm was triggered during the break-in, prompting an emergency response. Firefighters and officers entered the bank and discovered clear signs of unauthorized access to the vault area.
Investigators believe the suspects used a large industrial drill to breach the vault and break open safety deposit boxes. Police also revealed that a similar alarm had sounded at the bank at around 6:15 a.m. on Saturday, though no damage was found at that time.
Authorities have not disclosed how many safety deposit boxes were affected, but confirmed that the stolen assets include cash, jewelry, and valuables belonging to private customers. The investigation remains ongoing.
Sparkasse is one of Germany’s largest and most trusted banking networks, with branches across the country serving millions of retail customers. Security breaches of this scale are rare and typically trigger nationwide scrutiny.
Germany has seen a small number of sophisticated bank heists in recent years, often involving organized criminal networks using advanced tools and careful planning to bypass security systems.
Police said they have identified at least one concrete lead and are pursuing forensic and surveillance evidence to track down the suspects. Additional security measures have been implemented at the affected branch.
Authorities urged affected customers to remain patient as damage assessments continue. Officials said compensation procedures and further updates will be provided once the full scope of the losses is confirmed.
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