German Bank Heist: Thieves Steal €30m in Daring Drill Operation
Friday, 2026/01/02194 words3 minutes393 reads
In a shocking incident reminiscent of a Hollywood movie, thieves executed a daring heist at a Sparkasse savings bank in Gelsenkirchen, western Germany. Using a large drill, the perpetrators broke into the bank's vault and managed to steal an estimated €30 million in cash and valuables.
The thieves demonstrated remarkable skill and planning, breaking open more than 3,000 safe deposit boxes containing money, gold, and jewelry. Police became aware of the crime after a fire alarm was triggered in the early hours of Monday morning. The break-in is believed to have occurred during the quiet Christmas period.
Investigators suggest that the thieves gained access to the bank through an adjacent parking garage. Witnesses reported seeing several men carrying large bags in the garage's staircase overnight on Saturday into Sunday. Security footage captured a black Audi RS 6 leaving the scene early Monday morning.
The bank has informed customers that 95% of the safe deposit boxes were compromised. They've set up a hotline for affected individuals and advised checking additional insurance coverage. The incident has left many customers anxious and frustrated, with some gathering outside the branch demanding information about their lost savings and valuables.
