GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany — Thieves broke into a bank vault in Gelsenkirchen on Monday, stealing tens of millions of euros worth of property from safety deposit boxes, authorities reported.
Police said the heist, which occurred during the holiday lull, affected some 2,700 bank customers at the Sparkasse branch. Investigators estimate the value of the stolen items to be between 10 million and 90 million euros ($11.7 to 105.7 million), making it one of Germany’s largest reported bank thefts, according to German news agency dpa.
The bank remained closed on Tuesday, drawing around 200 customers demanding access. Police and firefighters were first summoned to the branch shortly before 4 a.m. Monday after a fire alarm was triggered. Upon arrival, authorities discovered a hole in the wall and a ransacked vault. Officials believe the robbers used a large drill to break through the basement wall.
Witnesses reported seeing several men carrying large bags in a nearby parking garage over the weekend. Security footage captured masked individuals inside a stolen vehicle early Monday, police said.
Gelsenkirchen is located approximately 120 miles northwest of Frankfurt. Investigations into the robbery are ongoing.
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