Forensic investigators examine Gelsenkirchen bank vault after industrial drilling used to steal millions. Photo by AFP
A German bank robbery in the western city of Gelsenkirchen resulted in the theft of cash and valuables estimated at around 30 million euros, police said on Tuesday.
Authorities said unknown suspects used heavy drilling equipment to break into a bank vault room and access thousands of safe deposit boxes.
The robbery took place at a bank branch in North Rhine-Westphalia, one of Germany’s most populous federal states.
German bank robbery discovered after vault breach
Police said the robbery was discovered after staff detected signs of forced entry at the bank premises.
Investigators said the suspects had gained access to the building during non-operational hours.
Authorities said a large industrial drill was used to penetrate reinforced security barriers protecting the vault room.
The method allowed the suspects to access multiple secure compartments inside the vault, police said.
Thousands of safe deposit boxes affected
Police said more than 3,000 safe deposit boxes were broken into during the German bank robbery.
The boxes were reported to contain a range of personal assets, including cash, gold, jewellery and documents.
Authorities said the exact contents varied by customer and would take time to fully assess.
Police said affected customers were being contacted through the bank as part of the ongoing investigation.
Loss estimates remain provisional
Police said the estimated value of stolen items was approximately 30 million euros, equivalent to about 35 million dollars.
Authorities cautioned that the figure remained provisional as reports from account holders continued to be filed.
Investigators said valuation would depend on declarations from deposit box holders and verification of ownership records.
Forensic examination of vault underway
The bank branch was sealed off as forensic specialists examined the vault room and surrounding areas.
Police said investigators were documenting drill marks, debris patterns and structural damage.
Authorities said evidence collection included tool residue, surface impressions and potential trace materials.
Surveillance systems within the building were also being reviewed, police said.
Security systems under review
Investigators said they were examining alarm records and access logs from the time period surrounding the break-in.
Police did not confirm whether alarms were disabled or bypassed during the German bank robbery.
Authorities said technical assessments were ongoing.
Suspects remain at large
Police said no arrests had been made in connection with the robbery.
Authorities said the suspects fled before the break-in was discovered.
Police declined to release descriptions of the suspects, citing operational reasons.
The investigation was continuing under the supervision of regional criminal police units.
Public appeal issued
Gelsenkirchen police said they had issued a public appeal for information.
Authorities said individuals with knowledge of unusual activity near the bank premises were urged to contact police.
No injuries were reported in connection with the incident.
Impact on bank operations
The affected bank branch remained closed temporarily as investigations continued.
Police said access restrictions were imposed to preserve the integrity of the crime scene.
Bank representatives were coordinating with authorities, police said.
Normal operations were expected to resume following clearance from investigators.
Customer reporting process underway
Police said customers with safe deposit boxes were being asked to submit formal loss reports.
Authorities said documentation would be used to establish a verified inventory of stolen property.
Investigators said this process was standard in large-scale vault theft cases.
German bank robbery draws regional attention
The scale of the German bank robbery has drawn attention from law enforcement agencies across the region.
Police said cooperation between local and state-level authorities was in place.
Authorities said information sharing was ongoing.
Previous vault robberies in Germany
Germany has recorded several high-value bank and vault robberies in recent years.
Authorities have previously reported cases involving professional equipment and extended access times.
Police said such incidents often involve organised criminal groups.
No link has been established between the Gelsenkirchen robbery and previous cases, authorities said.
Criminal methods examined
Police said drilling techniques used in vault robberies require technical knowledge and specialised tools.
Investigators said the use of such equipment is a factor in assessing the nature of the crime.
Authorities said analysis would determine whether similar methods had been used elsewhere.
Structural damage assessment ongoing
Engineers were assessing structural damage caused by drilling, police said.
Authorities said repairs would depend on the extent of the damage to reinforced vault materials. The assessment process was expected to take several days.
Insurance procedures initiated
Police said insurance processes had been initiated following the robbery.
Police said insurers would rely on verified police reports and customer documentation. Investigators said insurance assessments were independent of the criminal inquiry.
Legal classification of the offence
The German bank robbery is being investigated under statutes covering aggravated theft and property damage.
Police said penalties for such offences include lengthy prison terms under German law. Authorities declined to discuss potential sentencing scenarios.
Crime statistics
Official crime statistics show that bank robberies in Germany have declined over the past decade.
Police data indicate that large-scale vault thefts remain relatively rare. Authorities said the Gelsenkirchen case stood out due to the scale of losses reported.
Police said the investigation remained active.
