Gold Nuggets Stolen From Wells Fargo Museum in San Francisco -- 2nd Update

By Emily Glazer 

Three robbers broke into the Wells Fargo History Museum in downtown San Francisco early Tuesday and stole historic gold nuggets.

Wells Fargo & Co. said it was 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," a spokesman for the San Francisco-based bank said in a statement. "Additionally, the historic stagecoaches on site weren't damaged. Rest assured, the museum will reopen."

According to the San Francisco police, at around 2:30 a.m. officers responded to a sport-utility vehicle that had rammed into the bank museum's entrance. Three suspects exited the vehicle with their faces covered, took gold nuggets from a display case and held a security guard at gunpoint, according to the police. One suspect was armed with a handgun. The police said the SUV was determined to be a stolen vehicle.

Officer Grace Gatpandan said 4 to 10 ounces of gold was taken by the suspects, who are on the loose. The preliminary value is up to $10,000, she said, adding that the bank is still examining its inventory.

The museum, part of a larger Wells Fargo office, is one of several across the country. It houses historic artifacts from the bank, including some displays showing different types of gold from U.S. regions and a weight comparison of historic gold versus more current gold.

The exhibits include a Concord Stagecoach, used by Wells Fargo in the 1860s; a working telegraph; historic money carriers; and advertisements, among other items.

Write to Emily Glazer at [e-mail]

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