Millions in cash, valuables stolen as German bank vault drilled open

Gelsenkirchen, Dec 31: In a brazen robbery reminiscent of the Hollywood film Ocean’s Eleven, a gang of thieves drilled into the underground vault of a Sparkasse savings bank in Gelsenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia, over the quiet Christmas holidays. The robbers stole cash, gold, and jewellery worth an estimated €30 million (Rs 316 crore), smashing open more than 3,000 safe deposit boxes in a meticulously planned operation.
The crime came to light Monday morning after a fire alarm alerted authorities shortly before 4 a.m. Police and the fire brigade arrived to find a large hole in the bank’s basement wall, exposing the scale of the theft. Investigators suspect the gang may have spent several days inside the vault while businesses were closed for Christmas. The robbers fled in a high-performance black Audi RS 6, using a stolen license plate from Hanover, more than 200 kilometres away. No arrests have been made, and the suspects remain at large.
Hundreds of bank customers gathered outside the branch demanding answers. Many said their losses far exceeded insured amounts, with some having stored family heirlooms and life savings. “I’ve used my safe deposit box for 25 years. Everything is gone,” said one frustrated customer.
Police described the operation as “Hollywood-style,” requiring significant planning, prior knowledge, and criminal expertise. The scale and precision of the heist have made it one of the largest in Germany in recent years.
The Gelsenkirchen robbery also evokes memories of other audacious European crimes, including the October heist at the Louvre Museum in Paris, where thieves stole jewellery worth millions, including a diamond-and-emerald necklace gifted by Napoleon to Empress Marie-Louise and a tiara worn by Empress Eugénie.
Authorities are continuing their investigation, combing through forensic evidence and reviewing security footage, while victims anxiously await updates on the recovery of their valuables. The incident underscores vulnerabilities in even highly secure financial institutions, raising concerns about safety during holiday periods when businesses are closed. (Agencies)