German authorities have launched a major manhunt following a sophisticated bank robbery in the city of Gelsenkirchen that occurred over the Christmas holiday weekend.
A group of highly organized thieves successfully bypassed high-level security at a Sparkasse bank branch by drilling through a thick concrete wall from an adjacent parking garage to access the facility’s underground vault.
The scale of the theft is significant, with investigators estimating that cash, gold, and jewelry worth between $11 million and $105 million were taken.
Okay News reports that the perpetrators managed to force open more than 3,000 private safe deposit boxes, representing nearly 95 percent of the total boxes held at the branch.
The operation was discovered only after a fire alarm was triggered on Monday morning, long after the suspects had vacated the premises.
Local police have described the heist as a professional operation, comparing the precision and planning to a Hollywood film. Security footage identified a high-performance getaway vehicle, a black Audi RS 6, carrying masked individuals and using stolen license plates. It is believed the gang may have remained inside the bank for several days during the quiet holiday period to systematically empty the vault.
The branch remains closed as forensic teams continue to process the scene for evidence. Meanwhile, the bank has established a dedicated hotline for affected customers, many of whom have expressed deep concern over the loss of uninsured family heirlooms and life savings. No arrests have been made, and the investigation into the suspects’ identities is ongoing.
