Unraveling the Green Vault Burglary Mystery
Dresden, Germany - Four years after the daring heist at the Treasury Museum's Green Vault, the case still lingers in shadows of mystery. Questions swirl around the whereabouts of the missing jewels, the unacknowledged accomplices, and the oversight by security personnel that allowed the notorious Remmo clan to pull off this audacious caper.
"They must have been caught up in dreams, oblivious to what was happening," said Butz Peters, a seasoned lawyer and journalist gripped by this case. In his latest book, "The Clan and the Jewels" (300 pages, riva Verlag, €22.00), Peters chillingly explores the twist-filled journey of the trials, the inner workings of the infamous Remmo family, and how they managed to dodge the security system's watchful gaze.

The lynchpin in this thrilling tale is the unseen electronic barrier, which, remarkably, had never been tested to ensure proper functioning. Though regular maintenance was performed on the scanners, technicians overlooked evaluating whether they would activate if someone attempted to scale the fence.
The suspects, it is reported, even tested the scanner's performance multiple nights prior to laying siege. The Dresden authorities were startled during the crime scene reconstruction to discover that the museum's outer skin scanner failed to activate an alarm at all, even after such testing. "To this very day, the reason why it didn't go off remains elusive," Peters shares.
A Chain of Events and Lapses

The full story behind the Green Vault burglary is muddled by a series of dubious occurrences, missteps, and oversights. Peters hypothesizes that the security personnel might have fitfully slumbered during the actual theft, which was facilitated by the well-orchestrated testing of the alarm system.
In his book, Peters delves into the intricate investigation, the ensuing trial, and the hidden facets of a criminal family, using the Remmo clan as emblematic examples of their kind. Mentioning the iconic Dresden Frauenkirche, which costs 288,000 thalers, he puts the value of the "missing epaulette" in perspective: "280,000 thalers for two stones alone!", Peter remarks.
The book also highlights the myriad of accomplices and supporters involved in the case, some of whom still remain shadowy figures. The gargantuan art theft from Dresden's renowned museum flaunts a price tag of 116.8 million euros in stolen goods, causing over a million euros in property damage. Following a plea deal, most of the stolen loot was brought back towards the end of 2022, pleated and marred.
The Courtroom Drama Unravels
The drama involving the Remmo clan reached its zenith when five young men involved were sentenced in May by a German district court. Their convictions encompassed arson of a getaway vehicle in a residential building's underground garage and sabotage of an electricity distribution board. As the investigation remains ongoing, the search continues for the six remaining culprits and the yet-to-be-recovered portion of the stolen treasure.
- Peters suggests that the security team might have been oblivious to the burglary due to their possible bouts of sleep deprivation, as the notorious Remmo clan tested the alarm system prior to committing the crime.
- Prior to the burglary, the perpetrators attempted testing the scanner on multiple occasions to see if the alarm would trigger or waver, ultimately discovering that the outer skin scanner did not activate at all.
- The revelation during the crime scene reconstruction instigated the Dresden police to question why the electronic scanner failed to activate, and to this day, the reason remains shrouded in mystery.
- Peters' book documents a sprawling network of accomplices involved, including spies, supporters, quartermasters, and confidants.
Though the 2019 Green Vault Burglary represents one of Germany's most spectacular art heists, the security lapses that facilitated the theft have left gripping questions that remain unanswered. The full truth surrounding the case continues to elude the public, and the Green Vault's sparkling jewels still await their fate.
Sources:
Enrichment Data:
- The burglary saw five masked thieves maneuvering through the world-renowned museum's Green Vault, leaving with twenty-one invaluable pieces necessitating 116.8 million euros and causing property damage costing over 1 million euros.
- The thieves had inside knowledge, meticulously planning the heist by scoping out the premises and researching the security measures. This enabled them to locate weaknesses in the system andMaximize their chances of success.
- After testing the alarm system and determining that it would not trigger an alarm when the outer skin scanner was breached, the thieves subtly managed to pick the lock, enter the premises, and exfiltrate the treasure without raising any suspicion.
- At least twenty-one precious objects were stolen from the museum, including the legendary Saxon white diamond. Some of the items were generously returned at the conclusion of the investigation, but the majority remains missing, with the case still under investigation.
The Green Vault Burglary:
- The burglarized treasury museum is one of Germany's most famous museums, and its Green Vault is prominent for its extensive collection of historical treasures.
- The Green Vault's theft in 2019 marked the ninth direct assault of the museum, although some previous attempts were unsuccessful or thwarted by authorities.
- Since the 2019 theft, the museum has reinforced its security infrastructure and practices to prevent future incidents, employing advanced tools and protocols to protect its inestimable art collection.
- Together with the German police, museum curators and experts developed measures to ensure the Green Vault's security and minimize any potential risks, collaborating with global authorities to safeguard the world's cultural heritage.
History of the Remmo Crime Family:
- The Remmo clan is a notorious German criminal organization of Arab descent with deep roots in Berlin.
- The family has been linked to a multitude of illicit activities, including drug trafficking, money laundering, and organized crime, making it a powerful and irrepressible force in the city's fringe communities.
- The family's leaders, the Remmo brothers, have been implicated in numerous criminal cases, garnering them a notorious reputation and evading sentencing by leveraging their connections and cunning.
- Despite their rap sheet, the Remmo clan offers a fascinating insight into the inner workings of organized crime and their complex web of allies, from associates and underworld informants to corrupted officials.
The Green Vault - Glittering Treasures:
- The Green Vault's breathtaking collection of stunning gems and precious jewels is widely recognized as one of Europe's most impressive and valuable.
- The museum's holdings serve as a time capsule, immortalizing the art- and power-driven relationships that have shaped human history, while showcasing the ingenuity, artistry, and craftsmanship of the past.
- The eclectic collection boasts a fascinating and diverse facet of human creativity, reflecting the tastes, preferences, and socio-political milieus of various monarchies and aristocracies throughout time.