German Police Interview 2,500 Victims in Massive Bank Heist Investigation

Massive Investigation Underway After Gelsenkirchen Bank Robbery

German police have launched an unprecedented investigation into one of the country's largest bank heists, with officers beginning interviews this week with approximately 2,500 victims whose safe deposit boxes were looted during a sophisticated Christmas weekend robbery at a Sparkasse bank in Gelsenkirchen. The audacious theft, which occurred between December 27-28, 2025, saw thieves drill through a concrete wall to access the bank's vault and systematically empty over 3,000 safe deposit boxes.

Professional Operation Leaves Authorities Stunned

According to Herbert Reul, Interior Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, the robbery displayed 'professionalism and cold-bloodedness reminiscent of a film script.' The perpetrators entered through an emergency exit in the parking garage that normally cannot be opened from the outside, then drilled through an archive room wall to reach the main vault. Remarkably, the break-in alarm never sounded, raising questions about whether the system was disabled, malfunctioning, or expertly bypassed.

Police have rented additional office space to accommodate what they expect to be weeks of victim interviews. 'We need to understand exactly what was stolen from each box to build a complete picture of the loot and potentially find leads about the perpetrators,' explained a police spokesperson. The investigation involves 230 officers working full-time on the case.

Staggering Financial Losses and Legal Fallout

Initial police estimates placed the stolen value at around €30 million, but sources within security services now suggest the actual figure could exceed €100 million. The discrepancy arises because, as Minister Reul noted, 'Even the bank doesn't know what's in the safes, as everyone decides for themselves what they put in.'

The legal consequences are already unfolding. Lawyer Daniel Kuhlmann, representing affected customers, warned that the bank faces 'a wave of lawsuits of unprecedented scale.' While safe deposit box contents are insured up to €10,300, many victims stored valuables worth hundreds of thousands of euros. One woman told the Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung: 'I have a large safe containing €100,000 in cash and gold. Our existence is gone.'

Security Failures Under Scrutiny

The heist has exposed significant security vulnerabilities. According to a European Business Magazine report, the thieves used industrial drilling equipment generating 100-decibel noise and remained undetected for approximately 48 hours. Kuhlmann organized an information meeting in Gelsenkirchen for victims, stating that over 200 customers have already contacted him with concerns about inadequate security measures.

The robbery was only discovered on December 29 when a fire alarm sounded for the second time at the Sparkasse building. Police suspect the thieves timed their operation to coincide with reduced holiday staffing. As the investigation continues, authorities remain hopeful that the extensive victim interviews will provide crucial leads in what has become one of Germany's most complex criminal cases in recent memory.