Overview
- Thieves entered from an adjacent underground parking area and drilled through reinforced concrete to reach the vault and empty more than 3,000 boxes.
- Expert accounts reported by local media say a 350 mm drill likely pierced a 40–45 cm wall over two to four hours, suggesting meticulous preparation.
- Surveillance footage shows a black Audi leaving early Monday with a licence plate reported stolen in Hanover, and witnesses saw men carrying large bags in the stairwell.
- The break-in was discovered after a fire alarm on Monday, and officials say more than 95% of the safe-deposit boxes were looted.
- Sparkasse has closed the vault room until further notice, set up an emergency hotline, and is working with insurers as many clients face losses beyond typical €10,000 coverage per box.