Overview
- Investigators say processing at the Sparkasse Buer vault is advancing faster than first expected, with more than 50,000 items cataloged and a full site release anticipated soon.
- About 350 officers are assigned to the case, with roughly 1,100 appointments set and 840 victims already interviewed as police review around 600 public tips and analyze nearby video.
- The late-December break-in bypassed multiple security systems and emptied roughly 3,100 safe-deposit boxes, with police estimating losses in the mid–double-digit millions and reporting no hot lead on suspects.
- The first plaintiffs have filed claims at the Essen regional court seeking full compensation beyond the usual €10,300 cap, as their lawyer cites an expert report indicating possible security shortcomings.
- Sparkasse Gelsenkirchen plans to open a dedicated service center for affected customers and defends its safeguards as up to recognized technical standards, while victims criticize weeks of poor communication and unreachable hotlines.