High-profile robbery in Germany: 30 million euros in cash and gold stolen from Sparkasse Bank

In the city of Gelsenkirchen in western Germany, in the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia, unknown persons stole about 30 million euros from a branch of the Sparkasse bank. This was reported by the AFP news agency.

The robbers entered the vault, where the bank's customers' safe deposit boxes were stored, through the neighboring parking lot by drilling a hole in the concrete wall.

The robbers entered the vault, where the bank's customers' safe deposit boxes were stored, through the neighboring parking lot by drilling a hole in the concrete wall.

They opened more than 3,000 safe deposit boxes and stole money, gold, jewelry, and other valuables worth approximately €30 million.

Police say the crime was planned professionally, and the attackers could have spent several days inside while the bank was closed for the Christmas holidays.

The robbery took place on Monday, but it was reported later.

Around 4:00 p.m. local time on December 29, the fire alarm went off in the bank, after which firefighters and police arrived. They found a hole in the wall and a looted vault.

Witnesses said that over the weekend they saw several men carrying large bags to a nearby garage. Surveillance video from the garage showed several masked men in a stolen car.

This robbery may be one of the largest in German history.

• Losses from the Louvre robbery that occurred in October 2025 are estimated at 88 million euros; however, France will not receive payments for the stolen jewelry because they were not insured.