GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany — In a crime straight out of a movie plot, thieves stole about 30 million euros ($35 million) in cash and valuables after breaking into the vault of a savings bank branch in the western German city of Gelsenkirchen after cutting through a wall.
Police described the crime as one of the largest heists in the country’s criminal history.
According to authorities, roughly 3,200 safe deposit boxes were forced open, affecting more than 2,500 customers. The crime was discovered late Monday, authorities said.
Investigators are pursuing a “concrete lead” after witnesses reported seeing several men carrying large bags in the stairwell of a neighboring parking garage on Saturday night, several news agencies reported.
The reports added that video footage from the garage later showed a high-powered black car leaving early Monday morning, with masked individuals inside, one of whom appeared to operate the exit barrier, police said. The vehicle’s license plate had been reported stolen in the northern city of Hanover.
‘Great Deal of Knowledge’
An unnamed police spokesperson described the break-in as “very professional,” adding that it required “a great deal of prior knowledge and criminal energy” to plan and execute.
According to preliminary findings, the suspects accessed an archive room through the parking garage and several secured doors, then used a specialized drill to cut through a wall into the vault. Police said evidence was secured at the scene on Monday as forensic teams continued their work.
Upset Customers
According to several reports, tensions flared Tuesday as angry customers gathered outside the bank branch in the Buer district seeking information about their losses. The crowd reportedly grew to about 200 people, some chanting, “We want in, we want in!”
“The situation threatened to escalate when several individuals pushed past private security guards and entered the bank’s lobby,” the report said. “Police were deployed at the entrance to restore order and prevent further disturbances.”
