A bank employee is suspected of helping two men gain access to a National Bank ATM in Drama, northern Greece, so they could steal more than 175,000 euros, police said on Saturday after arresting two suspects.

The 42-year-old bank worker, who was not named, allegedly gave his two accomplices a special key to unlock the ATM and an access code that allowed them to open the cash machine and remove the banknotes.

Police said that the bank employee had informed the other two suspects that the ATM had been stocked with cash before they broke into it early on Friday morning to steal a total of 176,140 euros.

Officers said they recovered more than 175,000 euros of the stolen money at the home of the 42-year-old and his unnamed 41-year-old accomplice. The two suspects also had a number of firearms and bullets in their possession.

A third man is being sought in connection with the robbery but police did not release his details.