Thursday, January 1, 2026 -Thieves drilled into the wall of a bank vault in western Germany, stealing cash and valuables worth an estimated 30 million euros ($35 million), authorities said.
The robbery took place at a savings bank building in
Gelsenkirchen on Monday, Dec. 29, according to a press release shared
by Gelsenkirchen police.
Police said "several thousand safe deposit boxes" were broken into,
with initial rough estimates placing the damage in the "tens of
millions" of euros.
According to police, the perpetrators "took advantage
of the quiet of the Christmas holidays to drill a hole in a vault."
A fire alarm was triggered around 4 a.m. that morning and
first responders who searched the building eventually spotted the hole in the
basement.
A police spokesperson told Germany's DW News that
the loss is estimated at around 30 million euros and that the theft appears to
have required extensive planning.
Authorities believe the thieves gained access to the bank
through a parking garage before escaping with the stolen items.
In an updated press release, police said witnesses
reported seeing several men carrying "large bags" in the stairwell of
the parking garage overnight.
Investigators have also reviewed surveillance footage, which
reportedly shows a black Audi RS 6 leaving the garage early Monday morning,
according to the release.
Police said masked individuals can be seen inside the
vehicle, with one handling the exit barrier. They added that the car’s license
plate shows it was stolen in Hanover, roughly 145 miles from
Gelsenkirchen.
About 2,700 customers were affected by the robbery,
police and the Sparkasse bank said, per the Associated Press.
The bank remained closed Tuesday, Dec. 30, while hundreds of
people gathered outside the building, hoping to get inside, the outlet
reported.
Police said the incident remains under investigation.
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