€30 Million Vault Heist Hits Sparkasse Branch in Gelsenkirchen

Overview

• Thieves drilled from an adjacent garage into the vault room and opened more than 3,000 safe‑deposit boxes holding cash, gold and jewelry.
• Police estimate losses at roughly €30 million based on average insured values of about €10,000 per box, and the bank says contents are insured up to €10,300 per compartment.
• About 2,500 customers are affected, with Sparkasse indicating roughly 95% of boxes at the branch were breached and providing a hotline for reports.
• The break‑in was discovered after a fire alarm early Monday triggered a response by firefighters and police.
• Surveillance and witness accounts show men carrying large bags and a black Audi RS6 with a stolen Hanover plate leaving a nearby parking area, a special police unit is investigating, suspects remain at large, and the branch is closed indefinitely after crowds gathered outside.