Thieves steal more than 1,000 items from Oakland museum in ‘brazen’ heist | US crime

Thieves stole more than 1,000 items belonging to a museum in Oakland, California, authorities said this week, including historical items and jewelry.

Local authorities are working with the FBI to investigate the burglary, which took place earlier this month at an off-site warehouse owned by the Oakland Museum in California.

The Oakland Police Department said in a statement Wednesday that on October 15, shortly before 3:30 a.m., individuals broke into the premises and stole hundreds of items from the collection. The missing pieces included items such as Native American baskets, ivory carvings and daguerreotypes, as well as laptop computers.

“The theft that occurred represents a brazen act that deprives the public of our state’s cultural heritage,” Lori Fogarty, executive director and CEO of the Oakland Museum of California, said in a statement. “Most of these items were donated to the museum by generous donors. We are working closely with the City of Oakland, the Oakland Police Department and the FBI to ensure these items are returned.”

The San Francisco Bay Area Museum opened in 1969 and houses more than 2 million objects, including “landmark works of art,” historical artifacts and natural specimens, according to the OMCA website, and offers programs aimed at “exploring and revealing the factors that shape California’s character and identity.”

Fogarty told reporters Wednesday that there were no staff at the off-site facility at the time they were burglarized and that workers discovered the burglary the morning of Oct. 16, Oaklandside reported. It appears to be “more of a crime of opportunity than a strategic strike,” she said.

The police department is investigating the burglary with the FBI’s Art Crimes Team, a “highly specialized” unit of about 20 agents that investigates theft, fraud and trafficking of antiques and cultural property, the Oakland Police Department said.

The news broke shortly after the Louvre robbery in Paris made headlines around the world. Authorities made new arrests in connection with this case on Thursday.