Massive Sparkasse Bank Heist in Gelsenkirchen Locks Over 3,000 Safe Deposit Boxes, Causing Millions in Losses

In a major bank robbery that unfolded in December 2024, the Sparkasse branch in Gelsenkirchen's Buer district was targeted by skilled criminals who broke open more than 3,200 safe deposit boxes, affecting over 95% of the bank's customers. Authorities estimate the preliminary damage to be in the mid-double-digit million euro range, with the total loss approximated at around 30 million euros.

The heist was discovered after a fire alarm was triggered. Police and firefighters found evidence of the break-in through the adjacent parking garage, where the thieves had entered. Utilizing a specialized drill, the culprits made their way into the bank's steel-reinforced vault, overcoming alarm and video surveillance systems. Witnesses reported seeing several masked men carrying large bags and observed a stolen, high-powered black Audi RS6 departing the scene.

The police have opened investigations for severe organized robbery and have already collected witness testimonies. The robbery method involved drilling a large hole through a reinforced concrete wall to access the vault. The vault contained approximately 3,250 customer safe deposit boxes, with each box insured for contents up to 10,300 euros. However, since customers' valuables differ widely and inventories are unavailable, the exact extent of stolen assets remains uncertain.

Public reaction was intense, with about 200 agitated customers gathering in front of the bank demanding access to their safe deposit boxes, fearing for their valuables and feeling neglected by the institution. Police had to intervene to secure the situation and cleared the bank lobby.

This event recalls several past high-profile bank heists in Germany. Similar large-scale robberies include a 2013 incident in Berlin with a 45-meter tunnel breach and a 2019 burglary in Lübeck where over 300 safe deposit boxes were broken, causing losses over 18 million euros. In Hamburg in 2021, approximately 650 boxes were robbed using a core drill from rented upstairs premises. Such large breaches have led to contentious legal battles over compensation.

The Sparkasse incident in Gelsenkirchen remains one of the largest safe deposit box thefts in recent German history, highlighting ongoing challenges in bank security against increasingly sophisticated criminal operations.