Overview
- Sparkasse Gelsenkirchen, which said Tuesday it had begun scheduling handbacks, plans the first returns of documents and items for Friday after prosecutors freed the seized contents last week.
- The bank is sorting about 50,000 pieces left in the wrecked vault and will start with papers that clearly show a name such as car titles and purchase contracts.
- No insurance claims tied to the safe‑deposit boxes have been paid yet, and typical cover tops out at €10,300 per box once owners prove what was inside.
- Customers have called a Thursday protest in Gelsenkirchen‑Buer with 500 to 1,000 people expected, and CEO Michael Klotz posted a video expressing regret and urging direct talks.
- Separately in Stuhr, a February 13 break‑in at a Volksbank took more than €2 million from 14 boxes, and police opened an anonymous online tip portal as they seek three men said to have worn blue overalls.