Burglary in Soester Volksbank: Perpetrators steal over 1 million euros!

Burglary in Soester Volksbank: Perpetrators steal over 1 million euros!

A spectacular break-in at the Volksbank Hellweg headquarters on Westenhellweg in Soest caused a sensation. On January 30, 2025, unknown perpetrators entered the bank shortly before 5 p.m. and emptied four lockers. In total, the loot amounted to over 1 million euros, making this incident a unique event in the entire Soest district. The perpetrators were not afraid to get through the glass door into the vault with more than 900 lockers and force open seven compartments. Unfortunately, the perpetrators were successful and escaped undetected before the police were alerted after an employee noticed the alarm. Soester Anzeiger reports that the police are now intensively pushing forward the investigation and evaluating traces.

Security precautions at Volksbank were tightened after the incident. In the future, customers will have to report to the service area to gain access to the vault, where they can now only view their valuables if accompanied by an employee. The number of branches with lockers was also reduced from eight to four. Isn't it remarkable that the incident also throws current insurance coverage into question? From January 1, 2026, there will no longer be basic insurance for lockers. Before the theft, the insured sum was 7,500 euros, which plays a role in the current negotiations regarding the settlement of the damage.

Safety concerns and consequences

These events shed light on the general security of safe deposit boxes. Experts had already reported similar incidents in which perpetrators used sophisticated methods to break into bank vaults. BR24 emphasizes that burglaries can make it more difficult to settle claims. Customers must provide proof of the damage caused to their safe deposit boxes, and many banks offer insurance amounts of between 10,000 and 26,000 euros. Additional insurance is also possible, which seems increasingly advisable in view of recent incidents.

In light of such incidents, the question also arises as to the extent to which banks regularly review their security measures. The CEO of Volksbank Hellweg, Bernd Wesselbaum, makes it clear that the bank regrets the incident and that the affected customers will be fully informed. Support service in claims processing is also part of the offer in order to regain customer trust.

So how can locker tenants react to the security-relevant aspects? One option would be to have the contents of the lockers documented by taking photos and assessing their value. An extension of the household contents insurance could also cover any risks and thus offer additional security.

Finally, we can only hope that the police's intensive investigations will soon lead to a result and that such incidents can be avoided in the future. A good hand in security precautions is required by both the bank and the customers in order to minimize such risks.

For more information about this incident and general bank lockers, see the articles from Volksbank Hellweg and BR24 find.