Furious customers demanded answers on Tuesday after audacious thieves drilled their way into a German bank vault during the Christmas holidays and made off with valuables feared to be worth more than €30 million.
The dramatic raid targeted a branch of Sparkasse Gelsenkirchen-Buer, where criminals used a heavy-duty industrial drill to smash through a wall and enter the secure safe-deposit room undetected.
Police believe the gang struck while the bank was closed over Christmas, exploiting the seasonal lull to carry out what investigators are calling one of the largest bank burglaries in recent German history.
Inside the vault were around 3,300 safe-deposit boxes rented by roughly 2,700 customers. Officers say many of the boxes were forced open and emptied, with cash, gold, jewellery and family heirlooms feared stolen. Each box is insured for up to €10,300, meaning the potential insurance bill could reach nearly €34 million if losses are confirmed.
The crime only came to light after a fire alarm was triggered overnight, prompting emergency services to check the building. Police discovered a gaping hole drilled through the wall of an internal office, leading straight into the vault.
By Monday morning, scenes of anger and distress unfolded outside the branch as hundreds of worried customers arrived, desperate to know whether their life savings were gone. Some shouted “We want to get in!” as police sealed off the entrance and ordered the crowd to disperse.
Officers used loudspeakers to announce that the bank would remain closed and that no information would be provided on site. Several customers were seen in tears, while others spoke openly of contacting lawyers.
Bank officials said crisis meetings have been underway since early Tuesday and promised that all safe-deposit customers would be contacted. A spokesperson said the bank is working closely with insurers and will assist clients with claims—but admitted that banks do not know what customers keep inside their boxes, making the assessment slow and complicated.
Many customers now fear they may not be fully compensated, especially if they did not take out additional insurance beyond the standard cover.
Police say the thieves likely entered via a nearby car park, forced their way through several secured areas, and then drilled directly into the vault. No arrests have been made, and investigators admit they currently have no hot leads.
As detectives review CCTV footage and vehicle movements, shaken customers are left with one agonising question: after trusting their valuables to one of Germany’s most familiar banks—what, if anything, is still there?
