After the vault of a savings bank branch in Gelsenkirchen was broken into, concerned customers were clamoring for information. The number of people waiting in front of the bank branch in the Buer district had risen to an estimated 200 in the early morning, as a reporter from the German Press Agency reported. “We want in, we want in!” demanded a chant.
The situation threatened to escalate. Several people stormed past employees of a security company into the anteroom of the savings bank. The police arrived with several patrol car crews and made an announcement: Due to the situation, the branch would be closed today.
Sparkasse asks you not to visit
On its website, the savings bank asked people not to visit the site. “We are currently clarifying with the insurance company how the damage can be processed in the most customer-friendly way possible. We will inform all affected customers about this,” it said.
The Sparkasse Gelsenkirchen stated on Monday that the goal was for the branch to reopen this Tuesday and for those affected to be able to receive initial information.
According to police reports on Monday, a large number of lockers in the branch’s vault were broken into by the perpetrator or perpetrators. Numbers are not yet known. According to initial findings, the break-in took place via a parking garage. The path then led through several doors into an archive room, on the wall of which there was finally a breakthrough to the vault. A special drill was also used.
Each compartment is insured for 10,300 euros
The news of the break-in sparked a rush of customers demanding information on Monday. The police cleared the branch lobby and calmed the situation with loudspeaker announcements. According to a dpa reporter, an estimated 200 people were standing in front of the building at times. Some of the bank customers who showed up shed tears.
A spokesman for the bank told the dpa that Sparkasse Gelsenkirchen basically insured each compartment for 10,300 euros. Customers also have the option of taking out a higher insurance sum. The savings bank is already in discussions with the insurance company. “We want to support customers with what documents they need to provide.”
The break-in was noticed on Monday night by a fire alarm. When firefighters and police officers searched the building for a fire, they discovered signs of a break-in in the basement. According to the police, there was initially no “hot lead” on the perpetrator or perpetrators. Among other things, the investigators evaluate vehicle movements and question residents.
Many questions are still open. This includes, among other things, the amount of damage. Since banks themselves have no knowledge of the contents of the lockers, those affected must first be identified and contacted. It is also not yet clear when exactly the break-in occurred. It is assumed that the Christmas holidays or the following weekend will take place.
When it comes to lockers, the Association of Insured Persons recommends that you first check whether insurance cover is included in the rental price of the locker in the event of loss or damage to stored valuables. The maximum compensation amount should also be checked. According to an earlier test, the range of possible insured sums is enormous.
At most banks you can increase the insurance cover through their insurer or take out new additional cover, explains the Association of Insured Persons. Another option is to insure yourself through the external insurance of your own household contents insurance contract. It goes on to say that you should find out whether and up to what sum insured valuables in bank safe deposit boxes are also insured.
