Thieves Drill Into German Bank, Escape With Over €30 Million in Daring Heist

Police in Germany are hunting for a group of thieves who carried out a daring bank robbery and made away with more than €30 million in cash and valuables.

The break-in happened at a Sparkasse savings bank branch in Gelsenkirchen, western Germany. According to police, the criminals used a powerful drill to break into an underground vault and force open thousands of safe deposit boxes.

A police spokesperson compared the robbery to a Hollywood movie, saying it was “very well planned and professionally executed.”

Over 3,000 Safe Boxes Broken Into

Investigators say the thieves broke into more than 3,000 safe deposit boxes containing money, gold, and jewellery. About 95% of the boxes were damaged, raising fears that many customers suffered heavy losses.

The crime was discovered in the early hours of Monday morning after a fire alarm went off inside the bank building. Police and firefighters rushed to the scene and found a large hole drilled into the vault room.

Police believe the gang took advantage of the quiet Christmas holiday period to carry out the robbery without attracting attention. Initial findings suggest they entered and escaped through a nearby parking garage.

Witnesses reported seeing several men carrying large bags in the parking garage stairwell between Saturday night and Sunday morning. CCTV footage later showed a black Audi RS6 leaving the garage early Monday.

No Arrests Yet

So far, no arrests have been made, and the suspects are still on the run. Police continue to review CCTV footage and appeal to the public for information.

Meanwhile, Sparkasse bank has set up a hotline for affected customers. The branch remained closed as angry customers gathered outside demanding answers.

The bank confirmed that each safe deposit box is insured up to €10,300, and customers have been advised to check if they have extra cover through their home insurance.

Investigations into one of Germany’s biggest bank heists are ongoing.