Thieves Drill into Bank Vault and Make Off with Millions in Sophisticated Heist

Thieves drilled into the wall of a bank vault in western Germany, stealing cash and valuables worth an estimated 30 million euros ($35 million), authorities said.

The robbery took place at a savings bank building in Gelsenkirchen on Monday, Dec. 29, according to a press release shared by Gelsenkirchen police. Police said “several thousand safe deposit boxes” were broken into, with initial rough estimates placing the damage in the “tens of millions” of euros.

According to police, the perpetrators “took advantage of the quiet of the Christmas holidays to drill a hole in a vault.” A fire alarm was triggered around 4 a.m. that morning and first responders who searched the building eventually spotted the hole in the basement.

A police spokesperson told Germany’s DW News that the loss is estimated at around 30 million euros and that the theft appears to have required extensive planning.

Authorities believe the thieves gained access to the bank through a parking garage before escaping with the stolen items. In an updated press release, police said witnesses reported seeing several men carrying “large bags” in the stairwell of the parking garage overnight.

Investigators have also reviewed surveillance footage, which reportedly shows a black Audi RS 6 leaving the garage early Monday morning, per the release.

Police said masked individuals can be seen inside the vehicle, with one handling the exit barrier. They added that the car’s license plate shows it was stolen in Hanover, roughly 145 miles from Gelsenkirchen.

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About 2,700 customers were affected by the robbery, police and the Sparkasse bank said, per the Associated Press. The bank remained closed Tuesday while hundreds of people gathered outside the building, hoping to get inside, the outlet reported.

Police said the incident remains under investigation.