Overview
- Unknown perpetrators in late December accessed the Sparkasse Buer via a parking garage, entered through a reportedly manipulated, non‑alarm‑secured door to an archive room, and used a core drill at the precise wall to reach the vault.
- Nearly all of roughly 3,250 safety‑deposit boxes were opened, while boxes not currently rented were left untouched, raising questions about targeted selection without confirming insider involvement.
- NRW Interior Minister Herbert Reul highlighted several oddities and said assistance from an insider or locally knowledgeable helper is not unlikely, describing the suspects as a highly professional gang.
- Initial damage estimates in the mid double‑digit millions have shifted, with investigators now considering losses in the triple‑digit million euro range, though valuations are still being determined.
- Sparkasse CEO Michael Klotz says the branch met accepted security standards, reports no evidence of insider information, and notes contracts insure up to €10,300 per box as the bank works with police and notaries to identify items while victim lawyers weigh potential claims.