Millions stolen in Sparkasse vault heist; expert to investigate

An expert appointed by the court will examine the vault and adjacent areas of a Gelsenkirchen Sparkasse nearly a year after a spectacular heist resulted in millions of euros in losses. The expert is scheduled to visit the site in mid-November, according to a spokesperson for the Essen Regional Court.

In late 2025, unknown perpetrators gained access to the bank's vault through a parking garage and an archive room. Using a specialized drill, they broke into more than 3,000 safety deposit boxes. The estimated total damage ranges in the tens or even hundreds of millions of euros.

Civil lawsuits against the Sparkasse began in mid-June at the Essen Regional Court. Plaintiffs accuse the bank of inadequate security measures in the building, the vault, and the adjacent underground parking garage. The bank, however, denies these allegations, asserting that the safety deposit boxes were secured according to the recognized state of the art.

The core issue in the lawsuits is the amount of compensation for the deposit box owners. While contracts typically limit reimbursement to a maximum of 10,300 euros per box, the plaintiffs are demanding full reimbursement due to their belief that the security was insufficient. The court has suspended several cases pending the expert's report. The appointed expert specializes in alarm systems and mechanical security.