Mohan Sinha
03 Jan 2026, 12:19 GMT+10
GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany: Thieves drilled into a German bank vault in Gelsenkirchen and stole tens of millions of euros worth of property from safety deposit boxes on December 29, during the holiday lull.
The police and the Sparkasse bank said some 2,700 bank customers were affected by the theft.
Thomas Nowaczyk, a police spokesperson, said investigators claimed the theft could be between 10 and 90 million euros (US$11.7 to $105.7 million).
News agency dpa reported that the theft could be one of Germany's largest heists.
The bank was shut on December 30, when some 200 people showed up demanding to enter.
A little before 4 a.m. on December 29. police officers and firefighters rushed to the bank branch after the alarm went off. They discovered a hole in the wall, and the vault ransacked. Police believe a large drill was used to break through the vault's basement wall.
Witnesses saw several men carrying large bags in a nearby parking garage over the weekend. Video footage from the garage shows masked people inside a stolen vehicle, police said.
Gelsenkirchen is about 119 miles northwest of Frankfurt.
Get a daily dose of Milwaukee Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Milwaukee Sun.
More InformationGELSENKIRCHEN, Germany: Thieves drilled into a German bank vault in Gelsenkirchen and stole tens of millions of euros worth of property...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said he doubted Russia's allegation that Ukraine attacked President Vladimir...
BERN, Switzerland (ANI) January 2: At least forty people have been killed, and 119 others injured in a non-arson fire at the 'Le Constellation'...
ABUJA, Nigeria: Two people were killed in a car accident in Nigeria's Ogun State on December 29 that also injured British former world...
DHAKA, Bangladesh: Bangladesh's first female prime minister, Khaleda Zia, passed away after a prolonged illness. She was 80. Zia...
TEHRAN, Iran: Huge numbers of Iranians took to the streets on December 29, in the largest protest seen in the country, following the...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: With the Trump administration focusing on fraud investigations against Minnesota's Somali immigrants, the FBI Director...
(Photo credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images) Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 30 points and threw down a game-winning alley-oop slam...
(Photo credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images) Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 30 points and threw down a game-winning alley-oop slam...
(Photo credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images) Minnesota coach Niko Medved does not have to worry about giving a big pep talk to his team...
(Photo credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images) After sitting out Week 17 with a hairline fracture in his throwing hand, Minnesota...
(Photo credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images) Wisconsin faced four Quad 1 foes during November and December -- and lost all four. Some...
