The Oakland Police Department announced on Wednesday that it is working with the FBI’s Art Crime Team to investigate a burglary from the Oakland Museum of California’s collection two weeks ago.
Shortly before 3:30 a.m. on Oct. 15, a suspect or suspects broke into the museum’s off-site storage facility, according to a press release from OPD. They stole more than 1,000 items, including jewelry, Native American baskets, and other artifacts, police said.
“The theft that occurred represents a brazen act that robs the public of our state’s cultural heritage,” said Lori Fogarty, executive director and CEO of the Oakland Museum of California, adding that most of the stolen items were donated to the museum.
Fogarty said OMCA is working closely with OPD, the city of Oakland, and the FBI.
Police did not say how much the stolen artifacts were valued at.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Credit: Courtesy of the Oakland Museum of California
Credit: Courtesy of the Oakland Museum of California
Credit: Courtesy of the Oakland Museum of California
Credit: Courtesy of the Oakland Museum of California
Credit: Courtesy of the Oakland Museum of California
Credit: Courtesy of the Oakland Museum of California
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Roselyn Romero covers public safety for The Oaklandside. She was previously The Oaklandside’s small business reporter as a 2023-24 Poynter-Koch Media & Journalism Fellow. Before joining the team, she was an investigative intern at NBC Bay Area and the inaugural intern for the Global Investigations team of The Associated Press through a partnership with the Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting. She graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 2022 with a bachelor’s in journalism and minors in Spanish, ethnic studies, and women’s & gender studies. She is a proud daughter of Filipino immigrants and was born and raised in Oxnard, California.