German authorities are investigating a coordinated series of brazen robberies targeting Sparkasse bank branches across North Rhine-Westphalia during the New Year’s Eve holiday. The most notable breach occurred in Gelsenkirchen, where thieves accessed a vault and emptied an estimated €30 million in cash, gold, and jewelry from over 3,000 safety deposit boxes [[1]]. Initial estimates suggest total losses could exceed €100 million, making this one of the largest bank heists in German history [[2]], [[3]].
Losses could exceed 100 million euros in what authorities are calling a “century heist” at a Sparkasse bank branch in Gelsenkirchen on New Year’s Eve, according to reports.
German authorities are investigating a massive bank robbery that may total over 100 million euros, significantly higher than initial estimates. The heist, which took place at a Sparkasse bank branch in Gelsenkirchen on December 31, is already being described as one of the largest in German history.
The precise amount stolen remains unclear, as the contents of the breached safe were reportedly kept confidential. Early assessments had placed the figure around 10 million euros. Further investigation revealed that Sparkasse banks in two other cities within the North Rhine-Westphalia state were also targeted on New Year’s Eve.
In the city of Halle, near Bielefeld, thieves broke into four safes. Meanwhile, in central Bonn, approximately 20 kilograms of gold worth 2.2 million euros was stolen from a bank branch. Police quickly identified a suspect in the Bonn robbery – a 22-year-old former employee – and conducted a search of his home, confiscating evidence.
Regarding the Gelsenkirchen heist, police have praised the thieves’ “high level of professionalism” and acknowledged that the investigation currently lacks substantial leads. The scale of the robbery underscores the increasing sophistication of financial crime in the region and poses a significant challenge to law enforcement. Details of the initial reports emerged earlier this week.
