Thieves abscond with more than 1,000 items belonging to Oakland Museum of California - Local News Matters

On October 15, thieves broke into a storage facility of the Oakland Museum of California, stealing over 1,000 items, including jewelry, laptops, and Native American baskets. The burglary occurred at approximately 3:30 a. m. , leading to a collaborative investigation between the Oakland Police Department and the FBI’s Art Crime Team. Lori Fogarty, the museum's executive director, described the theft as a significant loss of the community's cultural heritage, as many items were donated by local supporters.

The museum is working closely with city officials and law enforcement to recover the stolen items. Authorities encourage anyone with information to contact the Oakland Police or the FBI Art Crime Team at 1-800-CALL-FBI. This incident follows a recent high-profile burglary at the Louvre museum, raising concerns about the security of cultural institutions. The FBI Art Crime Team specializes in investigating art theft and antiquities trafficking, underscoring the serious nature of such crimes. The museum aims to restore public trust and recover its cultural assets for the community.