Thieves Execute $30 Million Bank Heist in Germany Using Drilling Machine

Well-Prepared Thieves in Action

Thieves utilized a large drilling machine to breach a safe at a branch of a bank in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, stealing approximately 30 million euros in cash and valuables, authorities reported. A police spokesperson compared this heist to the Hollywood heist film "Ocean's Eleven," stating to the AFP news agency that it was "executed with a high level of professionalism."

During the robbery at Sparkasse bank, the criminals opened over 3,000 safety deposit boxes containing cash, gold, and jewelry. The Gelsenkirchen police were alerted about the incident after a fire alarm was triggered in the early hours of Monday. No arrests have been made so far, and the perpetrators remain unidentified.

The police indicated that the thieves took advantage of the "quiet Christmas days" to rob the building located on Nienhofstrasse in the Buer district. Initial investigations suggest they gained access to the bank and escaped through an adjacent parking garage. Witnesses reported seeing several men carrying large bags in the garage staircase on the night from Saturday to Sunday.

Authorities confirmed that CCTV footage shows a black Audi RS 6 leaving the garage on De-La-Chevallerie street on Monday morning. The holes in the vault’s basement were discovered when the fire alarm sounded, prompting police and fire brigade to check the building. Affected bank customers were asked to contact Sparkasse, which set up a helpline.

On Tuesday, police secured the entrance of the branch after a large number of customers gathered outside seeking information. A message posted on the bank's website indicated that the branch would remain closed on Tuesday following the heist. Sparkasse mentioned that 95% of customer safety deposit boxes were forced open, indicating that the likelihood of customer impact is "very high." It was also noted that items in each compartment are insured up to 10,300 euros and customers should check if they have additional insurance through their homeowners' policy.