In one of Germany’s most audacious recent bank heists, a group of thieves drilled through a parking garage wall and into the underground vault of a Sparkasse branch in Gelsenkirchen, making off with an estimated €30 million ($35 million) in cash, gold, and jewelry, according to police.
Investigators say the burglars appear to have spent much of the quiet holiday weekend inside the vault room, methodically breaking open more than 3,000 safe‑deposit boxes before vanishing without a trace. The break‑in was discovered early Monday when a fire alarm was triggered, prompting emergency responders to uncover a large hole leading directly from the garage into the bank’s secure areaMSN.
Security footage captured masked suspects fleeing the scene in a black Audi RS 6 fitted with stolen license plates, though authorities have not yet identified the individuals involved. Police described the operation as “professionally executed,” drawing comparisons to Hollywood‑style heists for its precision and planningThe Global Herald.
Outside the bank, hundreds of anxious customers gathered seeking information about their valuables, but officers kept the area sealed off as forensic teams combed through the site.
