Two men have been charged over the failed armed robbery of a bank in Sydney’s south-west more than eight years ago.

The Robbery and Serious Crime Squad has been investigating the attempted robbery, which occurred at a Regents Park financial institution on the morning of 16 December 2004, under Strike Force Running.

During the incident, three men, one armed with a pistol and another with a sledge hammer, entered the bank and allegedly demanded cash.

As the men tried to access the counters, staff activated the security shutters and alarms. One of the men allegedly fired the pistol, however, the bullet ricocheted and the three men left the bank empty-handed. They were last seen fleeing the area in a vehicle which had been the subject of a car jacking earlier in the day.

Detectives have been conducting extensive inquiries, including the examination of DNA.

Late yesterday morning (Wednesday 15 May 2013), detectives travelled to Nowra and charged a 37-year-old man with attempted robbery while armed with a dangerous weapon (in relation to the bank); and robbery while armed with a dangerous weapon (in relation to the car jacking).

He remains in custody to appear at Nowra Local Court via video-link today (Thursday 16 May 2013).

It follows the charging of a 33-year-old man at Silverwater on Monday 6 May 2013 with the one count of attempted armed robbery while armed with a dangerous weapon. He remains in custody to appear at Parramatta Local Court on Thursday 4 July 2013.

Investigations by Strike Force Running continue, with detectives still making inquiries into a third man.