Wells Fargo Museum Gold Robbers Planned Heist With Two Cars

The FBI said two suspects emerged out of a sedan while the third crashed the SUV

ByABC News

January 28, 2015, 5:31 PM

 -- The FBI and San Francisco Police are on the hunt for three thieves who rammed their SUV into the lobby of the Wells Fargo Museum in San Francisco on Tuesday morning.

Surveillance photos show that the SUV that crashed into the windows of the building carried just the driver and two other suspects appeared from another car, a Sedan, that was parked alongside the curb, authorities said.

The men, who were wearing ski masks, stole gold nuggets, ABC's San Francisco affiliate KGO reported.

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The museum on Montgomery Street is the site of the first Wells Fargo that opened in 1852.

PHOTO: Two other suspects emerged from a parked sedan outside the building and followed the first suspect through the crashed front. — Two other suspects emerged from a parked sedan outside the building and followed the first suspect through the crashed front.

The property features an "impressive display of gold dust and ore from California's Gold Country and a special collection of Gold Rush letters carried by hundreds of express companies."

One suspect restrained a guard after holding a pistol to the guard’s head, FBI spokesman Brian Weber said, though details of how he was restrained are being withheld.

Wearing ski masks and black gloves, the suspects were described as about six-feet tall, according to authorities.

PHOTO: The SUV that crashed into the windows of the Wells Fargo Museum carried just the driver, the FBI said. — The SUV that crashed into the windows of the Wells Fargo Museum carried just the driver, the FBI said.

In view from the glass exterior of the building was a Wells Fargo stagecoach that "carried passengers and gold across the western plains."

Police were alerted about the robbery at 2:26 a.m. this morning. The suspects had assault weapons and held up the security guard, KGO reported.

The men then took off in a sedan and left the SUV inside the bank, police said.

PHOTO: Thieves in ski masks rammed an SUV into the lobby of the Wells Fargo Museum in San Francisco, Jan. 27, 2015. — Thieves in ski masks rammed an SUV into the lobby of the Wells Fargo Museum in San Francisco, Jan. 27, 2015.

Authorities were looking for three men in a white Ford Taurus who were last seen heading eastbound across the Bay Bridge, according to KGO's report.

Wells Fargo spokeswoman Diana Rodriguez told ABC News on Tuesday that the bank is cooperating with the San Francisco Police Department's investigation.

"We’re disturbed this happened to the Wells Fargo History Museum, but are grateful no team member was harmed," she said in a statement to ABC News. "Additionally, the historic stagecoaches on site were not damaged. 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."

PHOTO: Thieves in ski masks allegedly stole gold from the Wells Fargo Museum in San Francisco, Jan. 27, 2015. — Thieves in ski masks allegedly stole gold from the Wells Fargo Museum in San Francisco, Jan. 27, 2015.