Masked thieves made off with millions of euros from a Sparkasse Gelsenkirchen bank branch in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, last weekend, after breaching the bank's vault and accessing safety deposit boxes. The robbers broke into the bank through an archive room, drilling through a thick wall to gain entry to the vault, according to police reports.

Authorities stated the thieves targeted the bank's safe deposit boxes, managing to open a significant number of them. Sparkasse Gelsenkirchen reported that approximately 95 percent of the branch's 3,250 personal lockboxes were compromised. The insured value of the stolen contents is estimated to be at least 31 million euros, equivalent to roughly $36 million.

The scale of the heist has drawn comparisons to other high-profile robberies in Germany, including the Green Vault robbery of 2019. Initial reports of the incident attracted little attention, but the full extent of the theft became clear in recent days, prompting law enforcement to classify it as one of the most audacious bank robberies in recent German history.

The method used by the thieves suggests a degree of planning and knowledge of the bank's layout. The police investigation is ongoing, focusing on identifying the perpetrators and recovering the stolen assets. The incident raises questions about bank security protocols and the vulnerability of safety deposit boxes.

The investigation continues, with authorities examining security footage and forensic evidence from the scene. The bank is working to assess the full extent of the losses and is cooperating with law enforcement officials. The incident has prompted a review of security measures at other bank branches in the region.