A massive bank robbery in Gelsenkirchen, western Germany, has stunned authorities and customers after thieves allegedly made off with cash, gold, and jewellery worth nearly &euro;30 million during the extended Christmas holiday.
The daring heist took place at a branch of Sparkasse savings bank, where robbers reportedly drilled their way into an underground vault while the bank remained closed for the festive break. German banks and most businesses shut operations from the evening of December 24, a window the suspects are believed to have exploited.
According to police, the criminals accessed the vault from a parking garage and broke into nearly 3,000 safe deposit boxes. Investigators suspect the gang may have spent several days inside the premises over the holiday weekend to carry out the operation.
The robbery came to light in the early hours of Monday, December 29, after a fire alarm was triggered, prompting emergency services to rush to the site. Security footage reportedly showed a black Audi RS 6 exiting the parking garage shortly afterwards with masked individuals inside. Witnesses had earlier noticed men carrying large bags in the garage on Saturday and Sunday nights.
Following the incident, hundreds of customers gathered outside the bank on Tuesday seeking clarity about their losses. The branch remained closed due to security concerns after threats were reportedly made against staff. Several customers claimed that the value of items stolen from their lockers exceeded insurance coverage.
Police officials described the operation as highly sophisticated, noting that the estimated losses were calculated based on the average insured value of over &euro;10,000 per deposit box. Authorities continue to investigate and monitor the situation.
The bank has since set up a customer helpline and has begun contacting those affected by the theft, expressing shock over the scale of the incident.

Robbers drill into vault, loot cash and gold worth €30 million over Christmas

Germany Bank Heist Shocks Gelsenkirchen

Robbers drill into vault, loot cash and gold worth €30 million over Christmas

December 31, 2025 | 16:04 IST