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Thieves Drill Into Gelsenkirchen Bank Vault as Branch Stays Closed During Probe

Standard insurance for each safe‑deposit box is about €10,300.

Overview

  • Police say the intruders accessed the Sparkasse in Buer via a neighboring parking garage, moved through an archive room and used industrial drilling equipment to breach the vault wall.
  • A fire alarm at 3:58 a.m. Monday led responders to the break‑in, but the exact time of the crime remains unclear and investigators are still securing traces and reviewing video and vehicle data.
  • Very many safe‑deposit boxes were opened, according to police, yet the number of affected boxes and the value of stolen items have not been determined because banks do not inventory contents.
  • After planning to reopen on Tuesday, the branch remained closed when roughly 200 anxious customers gathered and police cleared the foyer to keep order.
  • Authorities are asking witnesses to report unusual noises or activity around the parkhouse over the holiday period, and the bank says customers with higher coverage may have arranged additional insurance.