Thieves carried out a highly organised heist at a Sparkasse bank branch in Gelsenkirchen, western Germany, drilling into a vault and breaking open more than 3,000 safe deposit boxes. Police estimate the value of the stolen cash and valuables at about €30m (£26m; $35m).
A police spokesman compared the operation to Ocean’s Eleven, calling it “very professionally executed.” Investigators say the criminals used the quiet Christmas period to access the underground vault from an adjacent parking garage. Witnesses reported seeing several men carrying large bags in the stairwell of the garage overnight from Saturday into Sunday. CCTV shows a black Audi RS 6 leaving the garage early Monday.
The break-in was discovered when a fire alarm went off in the early hours of Monday. Police and fire crews searching the building found a hole leading into the vault. No arrests have been made.
Sparkasse said about 95 percent of the safe deposit boxes were forced open. Customers are being told the contents are insured up to €10,300 per box, with any additional coverage dependent on private policies. The branch has been closed, and police secured the entrance after crowds gathered demanding information.
