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Sparkasse Heist in Gelsenkirchen: Branch to Reopen Tuesday as Police Seek Witnesses

Police say many safe‑deposit boxes were breached with industrial equipment.

Overview

  • The break‑in was discovered by responders after a 3:58 a.m. fire alarm on Monday, though the cause of the alarm remains unclear.
  • Investigators believe the thieves accessed the building via a nearby parking garage, entered an archive room, and bored a circular hole into the vault wall with a non‑retail drill.
  • The exact timing of the crime is still unknown, with police focusing on the Christmas holidays or the following weekend, and the perpetrators escaped undetected.
  • The branch was closed for forensic work on Monday and is slated to reopen today to provide initial information to customers after police earlier cleared a large crowd from the foyer.
  • The bank says standard insurance coverage per box is about €10,300, while police are securing evidence, reviewing video and vehicle movements, and asking witnesses to call 0209/365 8112 or 0209/365 8240.