Khaberni - In a theft operation resembling the plots of Hollywood movies and with a highly complex plan, a gang succeeded in breaching the vault of a German savings bank "Sparkasse" in the city of Gelsenkirchen, managing to open 3200 safety deposit boxes, approximately 95% of the total vaults, affecting over 2500 clients from the thefts.
The value of the stolen cash, jewelry, and valuable items reached 30 million euros, according to initial police investigations. However, German newspapers reported that the amount could reach 90 million euros or more.
The operation sparked widespread anger among clients who gathered in front of the bank protesting the theft of their money and deposits trying to storm it, wondering how such a massive amount of money could be stolen so easily without any alarm.
Such operations require hours or perhaps days to open and empty them, which investigators expected, assuming that the operation took days and went unnoticed due to the Christmas holiday.
How did the theft occur?
The thieves exploited the location of the vault which is underground and one of its walls is adjacent to a wall of a car garage directly next to the bank. They used a drill to create a large hole in the middle of the armored vault wall, despite the high security of the vault and its alarm systems and surveillance cameras.
It appears that the thieves were well-planned for the heist; the German police confirmed that the drill used could not be purchased from any store, implying they had made a special drill themselves. Also, they set the hole size to be half a meter in the armored wall, a measure reflecting the meticulous planning of the theft to avoid any minor mistakes that could activate the alarm systems during the operation.
No one from the security felt the theft, except after it was completed and the alarm devices activated, and it was not a theft alarm but a fire alarm.
Compensating the clients
On its part, the German police stated in a release that surveillance cameras captured several masked individuals carrying large bags in the car garage, then they drove off in a black Audi RS6 car, which is still being searched for.
Regarding compensating the clients, the bank posted information indicating that if the amount stolen from each client is less than 10,000 and 300 euros, it would be compensated by the insurance company contracted with the bank. However, if it is more, a special insurance policy for the client is required.
