Massive Bank Vault Robbery Uncovered in Western Germany

A large and sophisticated bank robbery was uncovered earlier in the week in the western German city of Gelsenkirchen, after burglars broke into an underground vault and stole valuables estimated by police at around €30 million.

The break-in was discovered shortly before dawn when a fire alarm was triggered at a local Sparkasse savings bank branch. Police and firefighters responding to the alert found a large hole drilled through a wall leading directly into the bank’s subterranean safe-deposit vault. Authorities said the scale and execution of the operation point to careful planning and professional tools.

According to police, the suspects used a heavy industrial drill to penetrate the vault and forcibly open more than 3,000 individual safe-deposit boxes. The boxes contained cash, jewelry, and gold belonging to private customers. A police spokesperson described the crime as highly sophisticated, saying it was “a very professionally carried out robbery.”

Investigators believe the perpetrators entered and exited the bank through a nearby parking garage, allowing them to move equipment and stolen items without drawing immediate attention. Witnesses reported seeing several men carrying large bags inside the garage during the night. Security cameras later captured a black Audi leaving the garage in the early morning hours.

Despite the extensive damage, police said no suspects have been arrested so far and the investigation remains ongoing. Officers are reviewing surveillance footage and collecting witness testimony as they work to identify those responsible.

The bank confirmed that approximately 95 percent of the safe-deposit boxes in the vault were breached during the robbery. In a statement to customers, the bank warned that the likelihood of individual losses is “very high.” It added that the contents of each box are insured up to €10,300, and advised customers to check whether they hold additional private insurance coverage for higher-value items.

Following the discovery, the branch was closed and an emergency hotline was established to handle customer inquiries. On Monday, police were deployed to secure the bank entrance after large numbers of customers gathered outside demanding information about their valuables.

“I couldn’t sleep all night. We’re getting no information,” one customer told Reuters while waiting outside the branch. He said the safe-deposit box he rented at the bank contained his savings for old age.

Authorities have not disclosed how long the suspects may have been inside the vault or how they transported the stolen property away from the scene. Police said further updates would be provided as the investigation progresses and forensic work at the site is completed.

The incident is being treated as one of the most significant bank vault robberies uncovered in Germany in recent years, both in terms of the estimated value stolen and the scale of the breach.