Millions of euros stolen in elaborate bank vault heist in Germany | DW News

Summary

A daring heist in Gzenkill, Germany, has left authorities and customers shocked after thieves made off with millions in cash, gold, and jewelry. The burglars used a large drill to break through a basement wall, gaining access to a vault filled with valuable items. Investigators believe the operation was highly organized, possibly involving insider knowledge. Experts speculate that the criminals may have learned from previous high-profile heists, such as the Hatton Garden robbery. With the perpetrators still at large, authorities continue to piece together the evidence, looking for clues within the bank and security personnel.

Takeaways

• 😀 The heist is considered one of the biggest in German history, with valuables worth tens of millions of euros stolen from a bank in Gzenkill.
• 😀 Thieves used a large drill to break through a thick basement wall to access the vault, which contained cash, gold, and jewelry.
• 😀 Furious customers are worried about their savings, as the bank has not provided clear information about the theft.
• 😀 The break-in was discovered by emergency services after the fire alarm went off, revealing a ransacked vault instead of a fire.
• 😀 Some customers fear their safety deposit boxes, which may contain valuables exceeding the insured value, were broken into.
• 😀 One customer expressed concern that her mother's gold coin, passed down from her grandmother, may have been stolen.
• 😀 Investigators believe the thieves gained access to the bank via a nearby parking garage, pointing to a highly organized operation.
• 😀 Professor Michael Levy, a criminologist, suggests that the thieves likely had inside information, as identifying alarmed areas would be difficult without it.
• 😀 The operation may have been carried out during a long holiday weekend, when security vigilance may have been lower.
• 😀 Investigators are looking into dissatisfied or former employees and contractors as potential sources of information leakage regarding the security setup.
• 😀 This heist ranks among the largest and most spectacular, with an estimated $30 million in stolen assets, though there could be more valuables hidden beyond the insured limit.

Q & A

What is the significance of this heist in the context of German criminal history?

This heist is being described as one of the biggest in German history, as it involved the theft of valuables worth tens of millions of euros from a bank in Gzenkill, Western Germany. The operation was highly organized and has sparked widespread attention due to its scale and audacity.

How did the thieves manage to access the bank's vault?

Investigators believe the thieves used a large drill to break through a thick basement wall, which gave them access to the vaults containing valuable items such as cash, gold, and jewelry.

What was the reaction of customers upon discovering the theft?

Hundreds of furious customers rushed to the bank, terrified that their savings and valuables had been stolen. Many were in distress, especially those who had entrusted heirlooms and life savings to the bank, fearing their losses might exceed the insured value of their possessions.

How did the police first discover the break-in?

The break-in was discovered by emergency services when a fire alarm went off early Monday morning. Firefighters and police officers initially responded to a potential fire, but upon searching the premises, they discovered the hole in the basement wall and a ransacked vault.

What specific items were reported as stolen?

The thieves stole cash, gold, jewelry, and items from safety deposit boxes. Some customers reported the loss of precious family heirlooms, such as gold coins and bracelets, which had significant emotional value beyond their monetary worth.

What is the likely method the thieves used to gain access to the bank?

The police believe the thieves used a nearby parking garage to gain entry to the bank, possibly bypassing external security measures in the process.

How does criminology professor Michael Levy view the nature of this heist?

Professor Michael Levy describes the heist as 'spectacular' and 'unique,' comparing it to other high-profile heists like the Hatton Garden robbery in London. He suggests that the crime was likely planned with inside knowledge, as the thieves must have understood what security measures were in place and how to circumvent them.

What does Michael Levy believe might have contributed to the successful execution of the heist?

Levy suggests that the timing of the heist during the holiday season likely contributed to its success, as there would have been less vigilance from both bank staff and security personnel during this period.

What areas will investigators focus on to solve the case?

Investigators will likely focus on interviewing both current and former bank employees, as well as contractors or security staff who might have had access to the bank’s systems or information. They will also examine video footage from both the street and inside the bank to gain insights into how the thieves executed the heist.

How rare are such high-profile heists in Germany, according to Michael Levy?

Levy states that while high-profile heists like this are rare in Germany, they are not entirely uncommon in general. He also points out that this type of crime is 'predictable' in the sense that similar heists have occurred in other countries, but it remains an outlier in the German context.