Thieves used the quiet Christmas period to drill their way into the vault of a German retail bank and escape with at least 10 million euros’ worth of cash and valuables, police said on Tuesday.
A hole gapes in a wall after thieves drilled into the vault of a Sparkasse savings bank in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, December 29, 2025, in this image released December 30, 2025, by the police. Police Gelsenkirchen/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS – PICTURE PIXELATED FROM SOURCE. THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES.
The break-in targeted a branch of Sparkasse bank in the western city of Gelsenkirchen. According to police, the perpetrators drilled through a thick concrete wall, accessed the vault and forced open several thousand safe deposit boxes belonging to customers. The total value of stolen money and valuables is estimated to be in the double-digit millions of euros.
German banks and most shops typically close from the evening of December 24 through the holiday period, a lull the thieves appear to have exploited. The crime only came to light in the early hours of Monday, December 29, when a fire alarm was triggered and officers discovered a large hole in the vault wall.
News of the theft sparked anger and anxiety among customers. Dozens gathered outside the branch on Tuesday, chanting “Let us in!” as they sought information about their missing belongings. One customer told broadcaster Welt that he had used the deposit box for 25 years to store his retirement savings, while another said he kept cash and jewellery there for his family.
Police said witnesses reported seeing several men carrying large bags in the stairwell of an adjacent parking garage on Saturday night. Investigators also received reports of a black Audi RS 6 leaving the garage early on Monday morning with masked men inside. The licence plate matched that of a vehicle stolen in Hanover, more than 200 kilometres northeast of Gelsenkirchen.
A spokesperson for the local Sparkasse branch did not immediately respond to a request for comment to Reuters. The investigation is ongoing as police work to identify the suspects and trace the stolen property.
