By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reportersbrown@tribunemedia.net

MASKED men broke into a branch of Scotiabank early yesterday morning, started a small fire and destroyed an automated cash machine before leaving empty handed.The would-be thieves broke into the bank's Marsh Harbour, Abaco, location around 6am and tried in vain to gain entry into the vault. Police said the suspects did not steal any cash but started a small fire inside the bank before they escaped. Superintendent Stephen Dean said police believe the men were attempting to break into the vault."We believe they were trying to get the money out of the vault, but they were unsuccessful. They didn't break any of the windows to get in the bank but they did put a large hole in the wall. After they got in they tried to break into the ATM but that was also unsuccessful," he said."They also set a small fire, but luckily it was confined and nothing was damaged. We are looking at the surveillance footage and we feel good that we will have this case wrapped up shortly."No one has been arrested. Police investigations continue.The bank was closed yesterday, however operations are expected to resume today.In a statement, Scotiabank said: "Bank management have confirmed that there were no injuries sustained to any staff or customers. Due to the nature of our business, a robbery is always a possibility but we assure the public of our commitment to security and to the safety of our employees. We are working with the police into the investigation and would not like to say anything further to compromise their work."Anyone with information on the break in are asked to contact police at 911 or 919, CDU at 502-9991/9990, Crime stoppers anonymously at 328-TIPS or contact your nearest police station.In May, 2010, Scotiabank's Emerald Bay branch was robbed just after 9.30am. Police said a masked gunman went into the bank while another man waited behind the building in a white car - which police said was stolen earlier that morning.After stealing an undisclosed amount of cash, the pair fled the area.