‘Ocean’s Eleven’Like Gang Loots German Bank of $35M During Christmas Break

Key Highlights

• Robbers drilled into a German bank vault during the Christmas break, stealing cash, gold and jewellery worth an estimated €30 million ($35 million).
• Thieves broke open more than 3,000 safe deposit boxes at a Sparkasse bank branch in western Germany.
• Police say the heist was “professionally executed,” likening it to a plot from Ocean’s Eleven.

German police are hunting for a group of suspects after a highly sophisticated bank robbery saw thieves drill into an underground vault and steal cash, gold and jewellery worth an estimated €30 million, authorities said on Tuesday.

Christmas Bank Heist in Germany Nets €30 Million in Cash and Valuables

The heist took place at a branch of Sparkasse, Germany’s largest savings bank network, in the western city of Gelsenkirchen, located in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Investigators believe the crime unfolded over the extended Christmas holiday period, when businesses across the country were largely closed, according to police statements cited by AFP.

The robbery came to light in the early hours of Monday after a fire alarm was triggered, prompting emergency services to respond. Upon inspection, responders discovered a large hole drilled into the vault room, leading to the discovery of extensive damage inside the bank’s safe deposit facility.

Thousands of Safe Deposit Boxes Smashed Open

Police said the perpetrators smashed open more than 3,000 safe deposit boxes, making off with valuables belonging to hundreds of customers. The bank later confirmed that more than 95% of its 3,250 customer deposit boxes had been breached during the break-in.

According to investigators, the robbers gained access to the underground vault from a nearby parking garage, drilling their way through to the secured room. German businesses were closed on both Thursday and Friday last week for Christmas, leading police to suspect that the gang may have spent several days and possibly the entire holiday weekend inside the building.

Witnesses told police they saw several men carrying large bags in the stairwell of the parking garage between Saturday night and early Sunday morning. Security camera footage later captured a black Audi RS 6 leaving the garage early Monday, with masked individuals visible inside the vehicle, police said.

Authorities added that the vehicle’s licence plate had been stolen earlier in the city of Hanover, complicating efforts to trace the suspects.

‘Professionally Executed’ Operation, Police Say

A police spokesman described the break-in as “very professionally executed,” comparing it to the Hollywood heist film Ocean’s Eleven. The operation, he said, would have required extensive planning, technical expertise and significant criminal resources.

“A great deal of prior knowledge and criminal energy must have been involved to plan and carry this out,” the spokesman told AFP.

Police estimated the financial damage at around €30 million, noting that each safe deposit box had an average insured value of more than €10,000. However, several victims have already told authorities that their actual losses far exceed the insured amounts, raising concerns about how claims will be handled.

Customers Gather Outside German Bank Branch

On Tuesday, hundreds of distressed customers gathered outside the Sparkasse branch demanding information, as police maintained a presence at the site. The German bank remained closed for security reasons after threats were reportedly made against employees, authorities said.

Police said officers remained on site to monitor the situation, adding that tensions had “calmed down considerably” as the day progressed.

The bank said it had established a customer hotline and would inform all affected account holders in writing as soon as possible. It is also working with insurers to determine how compensation claims will be processed.

Bank Expresses Shock, Pledges Support

Sparkasse spokesperson Frank Krallmann said the bank was shocked by the scale of the robbery and expressed solidarity with customers affected by the crime.

“We are shocked,” Krallmann said. “We are standing by our customers and hope that the perpetrators will be caught.”

The investigation remains ongoing, with police urging anyone with information or footage related to the black Audi RS 6 or suspicious activity near the parking garage during the Christmas period to come forward.