Significant amounts of gold have disappeared from the safe deposit area of a Sparkasse in Bonn. An employee is suspected of unlawfully accessing two safe deposit boxes and stealing their contents. Police and the bank have been investigating since December 17, 2025.
An internal security incident occurred in the safe deposit area at the Sparkasse Köln/Bonn branch on Friedensplatz in Bonn. According to information from the German Press Agency (dpa), a large quantity of gold is missing from two safe deposit boxes. A bank employee is suspected of gaining unauthorized access.
A spokesperson for the Bonn police confirmed that an investigation has been underway for some time. She provided no further details. The case was previously reported by the „General-Anzeiger“. Sparkasse Köln/Bonn confirmed the incident, stating: „Since it became known on December 17, 2025, internal and police investigations have been ongoing.“ The bank is in contact with the affected customers.
Neither investigators nor the bank disclosed how the alleged theft was carried out, the value of the stolen gold, or the current status of the probe. This incident follows a dramatic break-in at a Sparkasse in Gelsenkirchen just days earlier. There, unknown perpetrators used a special drill to enter the vault and opened nearly all 3,250 safe deposit boxes. The loot, including cash, gold, and valuables, is estimated at least 30 million euros.
The Bonn theft has drawn attention, particularly in light of the Gelsenkirchen case, raising questions about the security of safe deposit boxes in Sparkassen.
