Sensational break-in in Gelsenkirchen: Do the perpetrators know too much?

Sensational break-in in Gelsenkirchen: Do the perpetrators know too much?

A very special kind of break-in rocks the savings bank in Gelsenkirchen-Buer. At the end of December, the perpetrators drilled a large hole in the vault to gain access to the lockers of around 3,100 customers. They not only caused material damage, but also hair as false traces, which complicates the investigation. How Daily Mirror reported, the target of the break-in was precisely chosen: the perpetrators appeared to have detailed knowledge of the location.

The police have already started questioning the locker owners, which are taking place in rented office space. These steps are necessary to find out whether some of those affected may have had insider knowledge that helped the perpetrators carry out their crime without raising the alarm. 200 affected people have already actively registered, and the first day of the surveys was completely booked out daily news determines.

Political and legal consequences

The break-in will also cause political waves: next Thursday it will be discussed in the Interior Committee of the North Rhine-Westphalian state parliament. However, according to the latest report from the Ministry of the Interior, there is no new information about the amount of the loot, so the public's questions remain unanswered for the time being.

However, for some of those affected, this incident means more than just a question of security - they are preparing to sue, accusing the bank of dereliction of duty and inadequate security measures. They point to the lack of motion and vibration detectors as well as the lack of metal reinforcement in the wall of the vault. The lawyers for the injured parties agree that the case could remain busy for a long time. A lawyer's information session attracted over 600 people, a clear sign of the interest and concern of those affected.

Trending burglary statistics

This incident is part of a worrying trend in Germany: the number of burglaries is continuously increasing. According to current statistics, there were 77,819 residential burglaries nationwide in 2023, which corresponds to an increase of around 18 percent compared to the previous year. These figures and the associated damage make it clear that burglary protection is needed more than ever. North Rhine-Westphalia exceeds the average with a 15 percent increase in residential burglaries, which underlines the regional challenges.

The police recommend comprehensive security measures to protect yourself from attempted break-ins. Mechanical and electronic security measures are becoming increasingly important in stopping occasional and spontaneous perpetrators, who account for around 80 percent of burglaries. It remains to be hoped that the incident in Gelsenkirchen will not only lead to clarification, but will also be the impetus for increased security measures in banks and among the citizens affected.