Thieves in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, used a drill to steal an estimated €30 million in cash and valuables from a Sparkasse savings bank branch over the Christmas holiday weekend. The Gelsenkirchen Police reported that the break-in occurred at the bank on Nienhofstrasse in the Buer district, with authorities becoming aware of the crime after a fire alarm was triggered early Monday morning.
The thieves gained access to the bank and escaped through an adjacent parking garage, according to initial investigations. Witnesses reported seeing several men carrying large bags in the garage staircase between Saturday and Sunday. The perpetrators remain at large, and no arrests have been made.
During the heist, the thieves broke open more than 3,000 safe deposit boxes, which contained money, gold, and jewelry. A police spokesman, quoted by AFP news agency, described the operation as "very professionally executed," likening it to the Hollywood film "Ocean's Eleven."
The incident highlights the ongoing challenges financial institutions face in protecting physical assets. While banks invest heavily in cybersecurity, physical security remains a critical vulnerability. The use of a drill to breach the safe deposit boxes demonstrates a low-tech approach that bypassed sophisticated electronic security measures.
The investigation is ongoing, and police are examining security footage and interviewing witnesses to gather more information about the perpetrators and their methods. The focus is on identifying potential weaknesses in the bank's security protocols and implementing measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. The police have asked anyone with information about the heist to come forward.
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