Germany bank heist: Robbers make off with tens of millions of euros
Photo: German police are still investigating the incident (Getty Images)
In Germany, criminals took advantage of the Christmas holidays to rob a bank vault, stealing at least €10 million, according to Reuters.
The incident occurred at a Sparkasse retail bank branch in Gelsenkirchen, western Germany. Authorities said the suspects drilled through a thick concrete wall of the bank to access the vault containing customers’ safe deposit boxes.
Once inside, the criminals broke into several thousand safes and stole cash and valuables. Preliminary estimates put the total losses in the double-digit millions of euros.
Police note that most banks and shops in Germany close for the Christmas period, starting the evening of December 24. The hole in the vault wall was only discovered on the morning of December 29 after a fire alarm was triggered.
On Tuesday, dozens of angry customers gathered outside the bank branch demanding explanations. Some said they had stored their savings, cash, and jewelry in the safe deposit boxes.
Authorities also reported that witnesses saw several men carrying large bags near a neighboring garage on Saturday evening. In addition, a black Audi RS6 with masked occupants inside was recorded leaving early Monday morning. The vehicle’s license plate may match one of a car previously stolen in Hanover.
The investigation is ongoing, and the bank has not yet issued an official comment.
Ukrainian police recently arrested members of an international gang who robbed dozens of safes in multiple countries.
Earlier, police also detained men who spent a year and a half planning a bank robbery in Chernihiv, Ukraine. However, the prolonged preparation ended in the thieves’ failure.
