Three bank robberies took place in Wheat Ridge this week, including one Tuesday in which the suspect used a bomb threat before fleeing in a taxi.
On Friday, three armed, masked men robbed the Wells Fargo at 3490 Youngfield St. in a “takeover-style robbery,” according to an FBI Safe Streets Task Force media release.
Two of the three suspects — one with a handgun, the other with a large knife — entered the bank, according to Wheat Ridge police.
The two hopped the counter. One of them forced two tellers into the vault at knifepoint, while the second held other employees at gunpoint, the media release said.
The robbers appeared to have stuffed materials under their clothing in an attempt to disguise their weight, the FBI release said.
A witness outside of the bank saw a red Jeep Cherokee parked nearby with a man behind the wheel. This third accomplice was dressed liked the two other robbers.
The driver got out of the Jeep and pointed a gun at the witness, police said. The trio then fled in the Jeep westbound on Colorado 58 toward Golden. No shots were fired and there were no injuries. The vehicle, which is stolen and has Colorado license plate 647 SUF, has not been found. Police suspect the three were involved in other recent bank robberies in the metro area.
Tuesday’s robber hit the Chase Bank at 7405 W. 38th Ave., handing a teller a note saying he had a bomb, the FBI said.
The robber fled in a taxi.
He is described as a white man in his mid-30s, 5-feet-10, 180 pounds, with brown hair, hazel eyes, a brown beard and mustache. He has a medium build and was wearing a dark-colored, hooded sweatshirt and dark workout pants.
On Friday, the same robber hit the Bank of the West at 7575 W. 44th Ave., the FBI release said.
He was wearing a brown hat with an unknown logo, black sunglasses, a brown-and-white-plaid long-sleeve shirt and blue jeans.
Investigators said the man had shaved since Tuesday’s robbery.
He fled the area in a Metro Taxi and was last seen near Denver Coliseum at 38th Street and Brighton Boulevard.
Anyone with information on the robberies or possible suspects is asked to call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP (7867).
Tipsters can remain anonymous and could earn a cash reward for information leading to an arrest.
Kieran Nicholson: 303-954-1822, knicholson@denverpost.com or kierannicholson
