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A hole bored through the vault wall is visible behind scattered debris and emptied deposit boxesGelsenkirchen Police Police say the gang exploited the quiet holiday period to access the vault unnoticed Criminals utilized a heavy-duty industrial drill to
penetrate the reinforced concrete walls of a local Sparkasse vault in western Germany, escaping with a staggering haul estimated at €30m (£26m; $35m) in cash, diamonds, and gold jewelry.
Authorities in Gelsenkirchen described the operation as "very professionally executed," with a police spokesman explicitly likening the intricate break-in to the plot of the Hollywood blockbuster Ocean's Eleven due to its calculated precision. The brazen heist targeted the bank's Buer district branch, where perpetrators successfully pried open and ransacked more than 3,000 safety deposit boxes containing personal valuables.
The crime was only detected when a fire alarm triggered around 4:00 a.m. Monday, finally alerting emergency services to the scene. Despite a swift response, the suspects had already fled the scene and currently remain at large with no immediate arrests made by local authorities.
Detectives believe the gang exploited the "quiet Christmas days" to work undisturbed, drilling through the basement from an adjoining underground car park.
Witnesses reported spotting several men hauling heavy bags through the garage stairwell late Saturday into Sunday, oblivious to the crime. Surveillance footage later identified a black Audi RS 6 speeding away from the garage exit on De-La-Chevallerie-Strasse early Monday morning.
The entry point, a massive hole bored directly into the vault room, was found by firefighters clearing the building after the alarm. Desperate customers gathered outside the closed branch Tuesday, seeking answers about their life savings. Police secured the entrance as tensions rose significantly.
"I couldn't sleep last night... We're getting no information," one distraught man told the Welt broadcaster, fearing his retirement funds were completely gone. 0:24 Watch: Police secure the scene as angry customers demand answers A notice on the Sparkasse website confirmed the branch remains shuttered for forensics as investigators comb through the debris left behind.
The bank admitted that 95% of boxes were compromised, meaning the probability of loss for most renters is "very high" at this stage. While the bank stated contents are insured up to €10,300 per rented box, Thomas Nowaczyk, a police spokesperson, stated the total loot could range between €10 million and €90 million, making this one of the largest heists in German history.
