German Bank Heist: Robbers Pull Off ‘Ocean’s Eleven’-Like Theft Worth Millions

A daring, movie-style robbery has stunned Germany after thieves stole gold, jewellery and cash worth an estimated 30 million euros ($35 million) from a bank vault in the city of Gelsenkirchen during the extended Christmas holidays.

How The Robbery Was Carried Out

Police and bank officials said the robbers used a large drill to break into the underground vault of a Sparkasse savings bank branch in North Rhine-Westphalia. Investigators believe the gang accessed the vault room through a parking garage connected to the building, allowing them to avoid detection while bypassing security systems.

Thousands Of Deposit Boxes Smashed

Bank officials told German news agencies that the branch was “broken into over the Christmas holidays” and that “more than 95 percent of the 3,250 customer safe deposit boxes were broken into by unknown perpetrators”. More than 3,000 lockers were forced open before the suspects fled with the loot.



Holiday Shutdown Gave Thieves Time

With German businesses shut on Thursday and Friday last week for Christmas, police suspect the criminals may have spent several uninterrupted days inside the building. Investigators believe the holiday break gave the gang enough time to systematically break open the deposit boxes.

Fire Alarm Exposes The Crime

The robbery came to light in the early hours of Monday when a fire alarm was triggered, prompting emergency services to rush to the bank. Inside, responders discovered a large hole drilled into the vault wall, revealing the scale of the break-in.

Witnesses Spot Suspicious Movement

Witnesses told police they saw several men carrying large bags through the parking garage stairwell during the night between Saturday and Sunday. CCTV footage later showed a black Audi RS 6 leaving the garage early Monday morning with masked individuals inside. Police confirmed the car’s licence plate had been stolen earlier from the city of Hanover.

Customers Gather Outside Bank

As news of the heist spread, hundreds of distressed customers gathered outside the closed branch on Tuesday, demanding information. A police spokesman said “disgruntled customers” had assembled, and staff received threats, prompting a continued police presence. He added that “the situation has calmed down considerably”.

‘Professionally Executed’ Heist

Describing the crime as “indeed very professionally executed,” a police spokesman compared it to the Hollywood heist film Ocean’s Eleven. “A great deal of prior knowledge or a great deal of criminal energy must have been involved to plan and carry this out,” he said.

Losses Estimated At 30 Million Euros

Police said the average insurance value of each safe deposit box was more than 10,000 euros, putting the estimated losses at around 30 million euros. However, several victims have told investigators that their losses were much higher than the insured amounts.

Bank Responds, Probe Continues

The bank said it has set up a customer hotline and will inform all affected account holders in writing while coordinating with insurance providers to process claims. “We are shocked,” bank spokesman Frank Krallmann said. “We are standing by our customers and hope that the perpetrators will be caught.” Police said the investigation is ongoing and the suspects remain at large.