An unsuccessful attempt to rob the branch of Piraeus Bank was made in Pernik, near Sofia, on the night of January 31 2008, the town's police said.

Unidentified individuals broke the bank's window and tried to open the safe with an oxyacetylene torch, but unluckily for them, the safe turned out to be fire-proof.

The safe contained at the time of the attempted robbery around 50 000 leva, according to the police.

The bank's alarms switched on around midnight, but the police was told about the incident only around 8.30am, investor.bg said.

Initial reports claimed the banking outlet belonged to First Investment Bank.

Experts said the attempted robbery was made by professionals and resembled other robberies in the region, which happened at the start of 2007.

The branch is in the outskirts of Pernik and serviced mainly Stomana Industry steel mill and the local customs office in the town.