Victims say German Bank heist targeted Turkish, Arab customers

Victims of a major bank vault robbery in western Germany say thieves deliberately targeted a branch whose safe deposit boxes were overwhelmingly rented by Turkish and Arab customers, raising suspicions of insider involvement.

The break-in occurred at a Sparkasse branch in Gelsenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia, during the Christmas holiday period. Thieves accessed all 3,300 safe deposit boxes in the facility, emptying them, while the bank’s main vault was left untouched.

Affected customers said about 95% of the boxes belonged to Turkish clients and most of the rest to Arab customers. A victims’ group formed after the robbery includes thousands of people, with only one ethnic German member, according to organizers.

Several victims questioned how the operation was carried out without detection, citing drilling through thick walls, noise, water use and power requirements that they said would normally trigger alarms or complaints. They also noted that the bank’s alarm system reportedly did not function properly, despite a police station located nearby.

Victims said the thieves entered through the bank’s private parking garage, which requires a special access card typically held by employees. The timing of the robbery during the holiday period has further fueled suspicions.

Customers also criticized Sparkasse, a publicly owned bank, for what they described as a lack of transparency and limited compensation. The bank reportedly insured deposit boxes for up to €10,000, while many victims said they lost valuables such as gold jewelry and cash accumulated over years.

Some victims have called for legal assistance from Türkiye’s government, saying they feel the case has not been treated as a major security failure.

German authorities have not publicly commented on allegations of insider involvement. Investigations into the robbery are ongoing.