The incident occurred in Gelsenkirchen, a city near Cologne, and initially attracted little attention due to the unclear nature of the stolen contents. However, the scale of the theft became apparent in recent days. Police stated that the thieves targeted private lockers within the bank, spending hours opening them, likely with a crowbar.
Sparkasse Gelsenkirchen reported that the robbers broke into approximately 95 percent of the branch's 3,250 personal lockboxes. The insured value of the contents stolen is estimated to be at least 31 million euros ($36 million), the bank said. The substantial value of the stolen goods has drawn comparisons to the Green Vault robbery of 2019, where priceless jewels were taken.
The method used by the thieves involved driving into a garage in an industrial area, breaking through a door to access the bank's archive room, and then drilling through a wall to reach the safe. This suggests a level of planning and knowledge of the bank's layout.
Authorities are currently investigating the incident, focusing on identifying the perpetrators and recovering the stolen assets. The investigation is ongoing, and further details are expected to emerge as forensic analysis and witness interviews continue. The bank is working with law enforcement to assist in the investigation and assess the full extent of the losses incurred by its customers.
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