Robbers carried out a high-profile heist at a German bank during the extended Christmas holiday, using a large drill to break into the vault and steal cash, gold and jewellery worth an estimated 30 million euros (US$35 million), police and bank officials said on Tuesday.
The robbery took place in Gelsenkirchen, in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia, where thieves accessed the underground vault of a Sparkasse savings bank from a nearby parking garage. Investigators said the suspects drilled through the structure and forced open more than 3,000 safe deposit boxes.
The bank confirmed that over 95 per cent of its 3,250 customer safe deposit boxes were broken into while the branch was closed over the Christmas holidays. Authorities believe the gang may have spent several days inside the building, taking advantage of the long closure period.
The crime was discovered in the early hours of Monday after a fire alarm was triggered, prompting emergency services to respond and uncover a large hole leading into the vault area.
Witnesses reported seeing several men carrying large bags in the parking garage stairwell between Saturday night and early Sunday. Security camera footage later showed a black Audi RS 6 leaving the garage early Monday morning, with masked individuals inside.
The suspects remain at large as investigations continue. On Tuesday, hundreds of distressed customers gathered outside the bank demanding information about their valuables.
