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Gelsenkirchen Bank Heist: Police Begin Victim Interviews as First Lawsuits Near

A victims' attorney plans test cases this week following a 600‑person briefing that galvanized compensation efforts.

Overview

  • Police in Gelsenkirchen opened interviews on Monday, renting extra offices to process hundreds of appointments from affected safe‑deposit customers.
  • Victims schedule slots via a dedicated phone line using their box numbers and are asked to bring any documents that substantiate what was stored.
  • The late‑December raid emptied roughly 3,100 boxes after thieves bored into the vault, and investigators are examining how alarms did not trigger.
  • Attorney Daniel Kuhlmann says he will file the first suits at the Essen regional court by week’s end, beginning with a handful of well‑documented cases and holding mandates from about 300 clients.
  • Another lawyer reports more than 100 clients ready to sue, while the bank defends its security as state‑of‑the‑art and notes box contents are insured up to €10,300.