Sparkasse Gelsenkirchen faces lawsuits after major vault burglary

Following a major burglary at a Sparkasse branch in Gelsenkirchen in late 2025, customers are increasingly filing lawsuits against the bank. The incident involved perpetrators gaining access to an archive room via an underground garage and using a specialized drill to breach the vault, subsequently opening more than 3,000 safe deposit boxes.

Currently, the institution faces 18 lawsuits from clients demanding full reimbursement for the contents of their boxes. The plaintiffs allege that the bank maintained inadequate security measures. While contractual reimbursements are capped at 10,300 euros per safe deposit box, the total estimated damage reaches tens or even hundreds of millions of euros.

Civil proceedings began in mid-June at the Essen District Court but were temporarily suspended. The court is currently seeking an expert to evaluate the bank's security protocols. The next scheduled court date is September 10.