Videos from an adjacent parking garage show masked perpetrators and suspicious vehicles in the massive break-in at the Sparkasse branch in Gelsenkirchen-Buer, where thieves looted nearly all 3,250 safe deposit boxes. Loot may exceed 30 million euros; police follow tips as shocked customers seek compensation.
Following the discovery of the break-in at the Sparkasse branch in Gelsenkirchen-Buer on December 28/29, 2025—initially reported with customer outrage and details of the vault drilling—investigators have new leads. Footage from the adjacent parking garage, verified as authentic, captures masked individuals, a black high-performance car with a fake Hannover license plate, and a white small transporter. Police have received dozens of tips and urge witnesses to report directly rather than sharing on social media.
The heist affected over 2,500 customers, with nearly all 3,250 safe deposit boxes broken open. Estimated losses are in the mid double-digit millions of euros, potentially over 30 million based on insurance data. A police spokesperson described the operation as professional, using specialized tools. Sparkasse has established a hotline and will notify customers in writing; each box is insured up to 10,300 euros, but many stored uninsured valuables like heirlooms. One victim tearfully recounted losing her late mother's jewelry and her children's savings books.
Compensation processes from similar raids in Lübeck, Hamburg, Berlin, and a recent gold theft in Bonn have been lengthy. This Gelsenkirchen burglary, executed over the extended Christmas weekend, is among Germany's largest.
