Sparkasse

Sparkasse is a savings bank in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. It is currently newsworthy due to a large-scale heist that occurred over the Christmas holidays in 2025. Thieves used an industrial drill to bore through a wall and gain access to the bank's vault. They then proceeded to loot approximately 3,250 deposit boxes, making off with an estimated €30 million (or $35-$105 million) in cash, gold, jewelry, and other valuables. The robbery has been described as one of Germany's most spectacular bank heists in years and has been compared to the Hollywood film Ocean's Eleven. Police are currently investigating the crime, which has left many victims devastated. The incident highlights the vulnerability of bank security and the potential for significant financial losses for customers.