Authorities in western Germany are investigating a highly sophisticated bank robbery in which thieves drilled through a vault wall and escaped with cash and valuables worth an estimated 30 million euros (about $35 million).
The burglary occurred at a savings bank branch in the city of Gelsenkirchen during the early hours of Monday, Dec. 29, according to a statement released by local police. Investigators said the suspects targeted the building during the Christmas holiday period, when foot traffic was minimal and the area was largely quiet.
Police reported that the perpetrators broke into the vault by drilling directly through a wall in the basement of the bank. Once inside, they forced open several thousand safe deposit boxes. Initial assessments place the total losses in the tens of millions of euros, making it one of the largest bank thefts in the region in recent years.
Emergency responders were alerted shortly after 4 a.m. when a fire alarm was activated inside the building. After searching the premises, they discovered a hole leading into the vault area, prompting a large-scale police response.
A spokesperson for the Gelsenkirchen police told Germany’s DW News that investigators believe the crime required extensive planning and professional equipment. Authorities suspect the suspects accessed the bank through an adjacent parking garage, which provided a discreet entry point and an efficient escape route.
Witnesses later reported seeing several men carrying large bags through the stairwell of the parking garage during the night, according to an updated police release. Surveillance footage reviewed by investigators reportedly shows a black Audi RS 6 exiting the garage early Monday morning.
Police said the vehicle’s occupants were masked, and one individual appeared to be manually lifting the garage exit barrier. Further investigation revealed that the Audi’s license plate belonged to a vehicle that had been reported stolen in Hanover, approximately 145 miles from Gelsenkirchen.
The scale of the theft has affected an estimated 2,700 bank customers, according to both police and Sparkasse, the financial institution that operates the branch. The bank remained closed on Tuesday as authorities continued their investigation, while hundreds of customers gathered outside the building hoping to gain access or receive information about their safe deposit boxes.
Law enforcement officials said the investigation is ongoing and have not yet announced any arrests. Authorities are continuing to analyze surveillance footage, witness statements and forensic evidence in an effort to identify the suspects involved in the meticulously planned heist.