Green Vault Dresden 2019: Germany's Biggest Art Heist

The Theft

In the early morning hours of November 25, 2019, the Green Vault — Dresden's most famous art museum — fell victim to one of the most audacious art thefts in recent European history. At approximately 3:45 a.m., five men broke into the Residenzschloss, where the museum has been located since 1723.

The perpetrators targeted the jewelry collection on the first floor specifically. Using a severed power cable on the outside of the building, they switched off the main circuit breaker, which disabled both the alarm system and security cameras in most of the museum. This was no accident — it was a meticulously planned operation.

They stole a collection of Baroque jewelry and art objects from 18th-century Saxon court culture — including diamond-studded pearl heads, gold combs, and jewel-encrusted snuffboxes. The total value of the stolen items was estimated at approximately 113 million Danish kroner.

Investigation and Arrest

Massive police resources were immediately deployed to the case. The Dresden Police and German federal investigators (BKA) took over the investigation. After several months of intensive work, police identified five main suspects — all men from the Berlin area.

In the summer of 2020, three men linked to the notorious Remmo clan criminal network were arrested and charged with the theft. The investigation revealed that the group had thoroughly researched the museum and planned the break-in in detail. They had photographed the building and studied its security systems before the operation.