‘I felt numb’: German bank heist victims devastated after thieves ransack 3,000 deposit boxes

A major bank heist occurred at a Sparkasse savings bank in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, during the Christmas holidays, where thieves breached the vault and emptied over 3,000 deposit boxes. The crime, discovered after a fire alarm was triggered 48 hours later, is estimated to have resulted in losses potentially reaching €300 million. Police believe the perpetrators, a group of five to seven masked individuals, used a heavy drill to bore into the vault and escaped in stolen vehicles. The victims, including a local carpet trader, are devastated by the loss of savings and valuables, expressing frustration and demanding answers from the bank. As of three weeks after the heist, the suspects remain at large, and the investigation is ongoing.

Explore how the topics in this article connect to other news stories