Suspect pics released in German bank’s $53m vault heist
A German bank has been targeted in a spectacular heist in which thieves stole tens of millions of euros worth of cash and the property will remain closed for several days while repairs continue.
The Sparkasse branch in the western city of Gelsenkirchen said additional time was needed to complete repairs after perpetrators drilled a large hole in the safe and looted safe deposit boxes a week ago.
Customers will be informed when branches reopen.
It added that experts have since sealed the hole.
Sparkasse staff are also still cataloging valuables and documents left behind by the suspects, a process the bank said will take some time.
Emergency services discovered the elaborate intrusion in the early hours of December 29 after a fire alarm was triggered.
The perpetrators forced open almost all of the 3250 safe deposit boxes in the bank.
Investigators said the suspects went through the adjacent parking lot, entered the archives room, and from there they punched a large hole in the safe.
Police believe the theft may have occurred over several days.
The bank began sending letters to safe deposit box owners, asking them to provide evidence of contents such as inventory and photographs.
More than 1,000 affected customers have already contacted a dedicated helpline, Sparkasse said.
The owners of approximately 150 undamaged safe deposit boxes were also reached.
Initial estimates put the stolen loot roughly in line with the insured amount of about 30 million euros ($53 million), but police have said actual losses could be significantly higher.
Over the weekend, police released security footage of masked suspects in the parking lot.
In the footage, three people are seen wearing black ski masks; One of the suspects is wearing red gloves and the other is wearing green gloves.
Police also released photographs of the black Audi RS 6 and white Mercedes Citan van believed to have been used as the getaway vehicle.
Police said both vehicles were equipped with fake license plates.
