Thieves Drill into Bank Vault and Make Off with Millions in Sophisticated Heist

Thieves drilled through the wall of a bank vault in western Germany, making off with cash and valuables worth an estimated €30 million ($35 million), authorities said.

The robbery occurred at a savings bank branch in Gelsenkirchen on Monday, Dec. 29, according to local police. Investigators said several thousand safe deposit boxes were forced open, with early assessments placing the total losses in the tens of millions of euros.

Police believe the suspects exploited the quiet Christmas holiday period to carry out the break-in, drilling a hole into the vault. A fire alarm was triggered around 4 a.m., prompting first responders to search the building, where they discovered the breach in the basement.

A police spokesperson said the scale of the theft suggests careful and extensive planning. Authorities suspect the perpetrators entered the building through a parking garage and fled the scene with the stolen items. Witnesses reported seeing several men carrying large bags in the garage stairwell overnight.

Surveillance footage reviewed by investigators reportedly shows a black Audi RS 6 exiting the garage early Monday morning. Masked individuals were seen inside the vehicle, with one person handling the exit barrier. Police said the license plate on the car indicates it had been stolen in Hanover, approximately 145 miles from Gelsenkirchen.

Officials said around 2,700 customers were affected by the robbery. The bank remained closed on Tuesday as hundreds of concerned customers gathered outside seeking information.

The investigation is ongoing.