Thieves Drill into German Bank Vault, Steal Millions During Christmas Break

Thieves drilled their way into the vault of a Sparkasse branch in the western German city of Gelsenkirchen, stealing money and valuables estimated to be worth at least €10 million, police said on Tuesday.

According to a police statement, the perpetrators took advantage of the Christmas holiday period, when the bank was closed and the area was quiet. They drilled through a thick concrete wall to gain access to the vault before breaking into several thousand safe deposit boxes belonging to customers.

Investigators said the total value of the stolen cash, jewellery and other valuables is believed to be in the double-digit millions of euros, although the exact amount is still being assessed as customers report losses.

Police have launched a large-scale investigation into the burglary and are examining security footage and forensic evidence from the scene. No arrests have been announced so far, and authorities have not disclosed how long the operation may have taken.

The incident has raised concerns over bank security during extended holiday closures, as well as the vulnerability of safe deposit boxes to organised and well-planned criminal operations.