FLASH
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An impressive "hit" with the robbery of at least 30 million euros. The Gelsenkirchen police have announced the first information about the previously unknown perpetrators and have published new details.
After the spectacular robbery at a Sparkasse branch in Gelsenkirchen, authorities are following the trail left by the perpetrators.
As police announced, there were reports that on Sunday evening, the suspected perpetrators were moving around a nearby parking lot carrying large bags.
Authorities have reviewed parking lot camera footage, which shows a black Audi RS6 leaving the area in the early hours of Monday morning. The occupants of the vehicle, who are suspected of being the perpetrators, were all wearing masks. The vehicle bore license plates that had been stolen earlier in Hanover.
Theft like in the movies
Immediately after the incident, police spoke of professional perpetrators. A police spokesman said the perpetrators were "clever" and described the theft as "cinematic".
According to current estimates, the value of the robbery could reach up to 30 million euros. The perpetrators appear to have forced their way into the bank building over Christmas.
Based on the investigation so far, they opened a large hole in the wall where the safes were located, emptying them. As Sparkasse reported, over 95% of customers' safes were broken into.
Following the spectacular robbery, around 200 bank customers temporarily gathered outside the building on Monday, demanding information about what had happened to their valuables.
A customer who had a safe deposit box at the bank said he had deposited money in the safe just last week before going on vacation. Now, yes, it's all gone." Another asked, "Where's the security deposit? I deposited all my savings here. I'm a worker. It's all gone."
Many customers criticized the bank's lack of security measures. Another added: "If I park my car illegally somewhere, they tow it away immediately."
A young woman originally from Turkey said: “I had deposited 100,000 euros worth of cash and gold.” She explained that this was a common practice among Turkish families. The valuables were intended for children, for their weddings or as part of their dowries. “But the safe was not secured.”
How exactly did the perpetrators act?
Security discovered the burglary at the bank's Buer branch on Monday morning after a fire alarm was raised. Firefighters and police then searched the bank building for a possible fire and found signs of a burglary in the basement. The investigation to identify the perpetrators is ongoing. According to initial information, entry was made through an adjacent parking lot. From there, the perpetrators went through a series of doors and reached an archive area, from the wall of which they opened a passage to the safe. A special drill was used for the burglary.
The bank branch robbery may have lasted several days
Police are appealing to witnesses who may recognize the suspects in the getaway vehicle or who can provide information regarding their identity or location to contact their local police department or via the Brandenburg police online platform. Of course, they can also contact any other police station.
According to the WAZ newspaper, an insurance representative was already at the bank branch where the theft occurred. It has not yet been decided what portion of the damage the insurance company will cover. “Anyone who has not insured their safe or has insured it insufficiently is making a costly mistake,” the representative is quoted as saying.
A spokesman for the bank said that Sparkasse Gelsenkirchen insures each safe deposit box up to 10,300 euros. At the same time, customers have the option of taking out insurance for higher amounts. The bank is already in contact with the insurance company. "We want to support customers by informing them about the documents they need to submit," he noted.
As the newspaper Bild reports, a special investigative team called "EK Kernbohrer" has been formed, in which many police officers participate.
"I estimate that a drill with a diameter of 350 millimeters was used," an expert told Bild.
The vehicle, including the necessary equipment, weighs about 20 kilograms.
"You need a drill stand, a powerful machine, and a normal power supply."
It took two to four hours of work to drill through the 40 to 45-centimeter-thick steel and concrete wall.
The expert estimates that more than one perpetrator was involved in the burglary. "However, because the perpetrators obviously wanted to leave quickly, I believe there were two or three people," he said.
Police continue to seek information from citizens who may know something about the case or the perpetrators.
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