SYDNEY - Detectives are conducting investigations after a large amount of cash was stolen during a bank break-in in northwest Sydney, Australia's New South Wales Police said on Friday.

About 2:40 am (local time) on Friday, a black Audi was driven to Lexington Drive at Bella Vista, in Sydney's northwest and parked outside the bank before two people wearing balaclavas came out of the vehicle, police said.

The bandits then used a sledge hammer to smash their way through the glass windows and a wall to enter the bank.

An ATM was broken into and a large amount of cash was stolen, police said.

The bank alarms were activated and security arrived on scene as the offenders fled.

Police were called to the bank where they established a crime scene which is being examined by specialist forensic officers.