Police in the western German state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) have confirmed a third suspected bank robbery involving safe-deposit boxes in recent days, raising concerns over a growing pattern of targeted thefts.
Following earlier incidents in Bonn and Gelsenkirchen, authorities said the latest break-in occurred at a Sparkasse bank branch in Halle, near the city of Bielefeld. Police confirmed on Friday that the incident took place around midday on Tuesday during normal business hours, dw.com reports.
According to investigators, perpetrators accessed the safe-deposit box area and broke into four individual boxes, emptying them completely. Police said there were no signs of forced entry into the secure area, though it remains unclear whether the room was unlocked or how access was gained.
Authorities have not disclosed the value of the stolen items, but affected customers have been informed. Police are now appealing for witnesses and have asked anyone who was near the bank at the time to come forward with information.
The Halle case marks the third safe-deposit box theft in NRW within days, following two high-profile incidents at Sparkasse branches elsewhere in the state.
In Bonn, police are investigating a former employee in connection with the theft of gold from two safe-deposit boxes. The break-in was discovered on December 17, with authorities estimating the value of the stolen gold in the high six-figure range. A 22-year-old former staff member is under suspicion.
In Gelsenkirchen, thieves carried out one of the largest known bank vault robberies in Germany, breaking into nearly all 3,250 customer safe-deposit boxes at a Sparkasse branch earlier this week. Police estimate losses at around €30 million.
Investigators in Gelsenkirchen said they are dealing with an overwhelming number of tips but have yet to identify a clear suspect. “We’re getting tips from all directions,” a police spokesperson said, adding that specialists and investigators from other German states have joined the inquiry.
Authorities have not publicly linked the three cases but are examining similarities as investigations continue across the region.
