Gold nuggets stolen from Wells Fargo in smash-and-grab

SAN FRANCISCO — A group of modern-day stagecoach robbers crashed a stolen SUV into the Wells Fargo bank museum early Tuesday morning, held a security guard at gunpoint and fled after stealing gold nuggets from a display case, according to police.

The museum, located inside the bank's world headquarters at 420 Montgomery St., features gold gathered from across California's gold-producing regions. The museum's exhibits are dedicated, in part, to the role the bank played in California's gold rush.

The robbers got away with somewhere between 4 ounces to 10 ounces of gold, said police spokeswoman officer Grace Gatpandan. She said the gold was initially valued at $10,000.

According to police, the three robbers crashed the stolen SUV through the building's revolving front door about 2:30 a.m., and then jumped out, faces covered, and held the security guard at gunpoint while they took the nuggets. The suspects then fled in a sedan, leaving the SUV lodged in the building's front, police said.

In a statement, Wells Fargo said bank officials are cooperating with police.

"We're disturbed this happened to the Wells Fargo History Museum, but are grateful no team member was harmed," bank spokesman Ancel Martinez said. "Rest assured, the museum will reopen, so it can continue to serve the thousands of visitors and Bay Area residents who visit it each year."

By mid-morning Tuesday, construction workers had started to replace the tall glass windows at the front of the museum.

The SUV was reported stolen from San Bruno late last week.

The museum reopened last spring after a renovation, and is currently displaying an historic stagecoach, which was undamaged.

Contributing: Laura Mandaro in San Francisco