OAKLAND, Calif.—More than 1,000 historical artifacts were stolen from the Oakland Museum of California earlier this month, according to an Oakland Police Department (OPD) announcement on Oct. 29.
The burglary occurred just before 3:30 a.m. on Oct. 15 at the museum’s off-site storage facility. One or more individuals broke into the structure and took the items, including jewelry, laptops, Native American baskets, and other artifacts, the announcement states.
The OPD is now working with the FBI to investigate the theft.
“The theft that occurred represents a brazen act that robs the public of our state’s cultural heritage,” Lori Fogarty, executive director and CEO of the museum, said in the statement. “Most of these objects have been given to the Museum by generous donors. We are working in close partnership with the City of Oakland, the Oakland Police Department, and the FBI to see that these objects are returned.”
The FBI Art Crime Team is involved in the investigation, according to the statement.
The team, which was established in 2004, is a unit that specializes in the investigation and recovery of stolen art. Currently, the unit has about 20 agents across the United States who investigate all matters related to art, including theft of artwork, fraud, forgery, and trafficking of antiquities and cultural property.
The FBI website states that art and cultural property crime leads to billions of dollars in losses every year. Since 2004, the Art Crime Team has recovered more than 20,000 items valued at more than $1 billion.
The police issued photos of some of the items stolen from the Oakland Museum of California, including the “Slot-Hinged Titanium Neckpiece” made by Florence Resnikoff in 1982; a half-plate daguerreotype and leather case of Lucy Dodge Johnson by Robert H. Vance, circa 1854; and the “Rutilated Quartz Dome Neckpiece” made by Florence Resnikoff in 1992.
The police did not reveal the value of the stolen property or the location of the storage facility. No one has been arrested regarding the case so far.
People with information that might help with the investigation are encouraged to contact the OPD or the FBI Art Crime Team.
The Oakland museum heist occurred just four days before the notorious Louvre Museum heist in Paris.
As of Oct. 30, French authorities had arrested seven suspects following that heist, which took place in broad daylight on Oct. 19. The stolen pieces were valued at 88 million euros ($102 million) and were described as priceless in terms of their cultural significance.
