Robbers used a large drill to break into the vault room of a bank in western Germany and stole cash, gold and jewellery worth around 30 million euros ($35 million), police said. The heist took place in Gelsenkirchen,
where thieves accessed more than 3,000 safe deposit boxes before fleeing the scene. The suspects remain at large.
According to police, the attackers drilled their way into the high-security vault area and systematically opened deposit boxes containing money and valuables, suggesting a carefully planned operation. Investigators are examining CCTV footage and forensic evidence to establish how the criminals bypassed security measures.
German authorities said the investigation into the Gelsenkirchen bank heist is ongoing and have not ruled out cross-border links as they work to identify and trace the perpetrators.
The incident comes after a major robbery at Paris’s Louvre Museum this year when thieves targeted a secure gallery housing historic crown jewels and made off with artefacts valued at tens of millions of euros, triggering a major security review in France and an international investigation.
The Louvre heist reignited debate over the vulnerability of even the most heavily guarded institutions, with authorities across Europe reassessing protections at banks, museums and other sites holding high-value assets.
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