
Audacious Bank Heist Stuns Gelsenkirchen: $105 Million Vanishes in Christmas Caper
A daring Christmas bank heist in Gelsenkirchen, Germany saw criminals steal up to $105 million from safe deposit boxes, executing a Hollywood-worthy robbery that has left authorities and customers stunned.
In a meticulously planned robbery that rivals Hollywood's most dramatic heists, criminals executed a stunning breach of a Sparkasse bank in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, potentially stealing up to $105 million during the quiet Christmas holiday period.
Police revealed that the thieves demonstrated extraordinary precision, drilling through a thick concrete wall from an adjacent parking garage to access an underground vault room. Using industrial-grade equipment, they systematically forced open approximately 3,000 safe deposit boxes, making off with cash, gold, and jewelry in what authorities described as a "very professionally executed" operation.

The scale of the theft is breathtaking: more than 95 percent of the bank's 3,250 customer safe deposit boxes were compromised. While initial estimates range between $11.8 million and $105.7 million, investigators noted that many victims reported items far exceeding standard insurance values.
Security footage captured a black Audi RS 6 fleeing the scene with masked individuals, though the vehicle's license plate was already reported stolen from Hanover, complicating initial tracking efforts. The brazen nature of the crime has left local customers stunned, with angry rallies forming outside the bank branch demanding answers.
Bank spokesperson Frank Krallmann expressed shock at the incident, stating, "We are standing by our customers and hope that the perpetrators will be caught." The bank has initiated communication with affected customers, establishing a dedicated hotline and working with insurers to address potential compensation claims.
As investigations continue, no arrests have been made, and the sophisticated criminals remain at large. The heist has drawn comparisons to cinematic robberies, with police noting the extraordinary level of criminal planning required to execute such a complex operation.
This incident follows a similar high-profile theft at the Louvre Museum in Paris just months earlier, where Napoleonic jewelry valued at $102 million was stolen, highlighting a growing trend of meticulously planned cultural and financial institution robberies across Europe.
Based on reporting by Al Jazeera
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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