In an audacious Christmas holiday robbery that echoes cinematic crime capers, thieves successfully infiltrated a Sparkasse savings bank vault in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, making off with an estimated €30 million ($35 million) in cash, gold, and jewelry. The meticulously planned operation saw perpetrators utilize industrial drilling equipment to access the underground vault from an adjacent parking garage during the extended festive closure period.
Law enforcement authorities revealed that the criminals methodically breached over 3,000 safety deposit boxes—approximately 95% of the bank’s total—in what appears to have been a multi-day operation. The crime remained undetected until Monday when triggered fire alarms prompted emergency responders to discover the sophisticated breach entry point.
Eyewitness accounts and surveillance footage captured several masked individuals carrying large bags through the parking complex stairwell between Saturday and Sunday nights. Investigators are tracking a black Audi RS 6, whose stolen license plate was originally registered in Hanover, seen departing the scene early Monday morning.
Police spokespersons characterized the operation as ‘exceptionally professional,’ noting the requirement of significant technical knowledge and criminal sophistication to execute. The heist’s timing during extended holiday closures provided optimal conditions for the extensive vault penetration.
Hundreds of distressed customers gathered outside the bank branch Tuesday, with many reporting losses substantially exceeding their boxes’ insured values. The bank has established dedicated customer support channels and is collaborating with insurance providers to process claims while maintaining branch security following threats against employees.