Berlin, Dec. 31 -- Just days before the New Year, valuables worth around Euro 30 million (about USD 33 million) were stolen from a bank in the western German city of Gelsenkirchen, in what police described as one of the largest bank heists in the country in recent years. Authorities confirmed the incident on Tuesday, DW reported.

Police believe the robbery was carried out by a highly organised and well-prepared group, citing the level of planning, technical skill and coordination involved in the operation.

According to investigators, the burglars entered the bank through an underground parking garage. From there, they drilled through a wall to gain access to the vault area. After breaking open thousands of safe-deposit lockers, the susp...