Source, Gelsenkirchen Police
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Reading time: 2 min
In the western German city of Gelsenkirschen, thieves broke into the vaults of a bank on a main street using a large drill and stole $30 million worth of cash and valuables.
In his statement to the AFP news agency, the Police Spokesperson compared the robbery to what happened in the Hollywood movie Ocean’s Eleven and said that it was carried out “in a very professional manner”.
In the incident that took place at the Sparkasse bank branch, thieves stole money, gold and jewelery from more than three thousand safe deposit boxes.
Gelsenkirchen Police stated that they were informed of the robbery when the fire alarm went off in the early hours of Monday morning.
So far, no arrests have been made regarding the incident and the robbers are on the run.
Police noted that the thieves took advantage of the “quiet Christmas day” to gain access to the bank on Nienhof Street in the city’s Buer district.
According to preliminary findings, the thieves entered the bank from a nearby parking lot and went out from the same place.
Eyewitnesses said they saw several people carrying large bags on the stairs of the parking lot.
Police stated that a black Audi vehicle was seen leaving the parking lot in security camera footage.
The hole leading to the underground safe room was found early Monday morning. Police and fire brigade searched the building.
Those affected by the robbery were called to contact the helpline established by Sparkasse Bank. The police took precautions after many customers seeking information gathered in front of the bank branch.
In the statement made on the bank’s website, it was noted that 95% of the safe deposit boxes were opened and that customers were likely to be affected by the incident.
The statement also stated that each safe was insured up to 10,300 euros and advised customers to check whether they had other insurance.
