Thieves broke into the Oakland Museum of California’s storage facility and made off with priceless pieces of Bay Area history, police say.

Authorities are still trying to determine how the heist was pulled off, and where these artifacts might be.

Police say over 1,000 items were stolen from the off-site storage facility. The thieves didn’t get in through a door but their entry point is still under investigation.

Mostly small items were stolen like jewelry, Native American baskets, ivory tusks and photographs.

“The theft that occurred represents a brazen act that robs the public of our state’s cultural heritage,” Oakland Museum of California CEO Lori Fogarty said. “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.”

This all happened at about 3:30 a.m. on October 15, days before the heist at the Louvre in Paris that garnered international media attention.

MORE: 5 more suspects arrested over Louvre jewel heist

The museum said law enforcement asked them not to say anything so that the investigation wouldn’t be jeopardized. Information about the heist was just released Wednesday, October 29 as to get the word out to catch the thieves.

“I think it is very possible that the people who stole these items don’t really know themselves what they have and why it might be important and where to actually, if they’re trying to pass it off or sell it, where to take it,” Fogarty said.

Fogarty said that the storage facility had strong security, but they are evaluating it.

They say that as far as they know, no employees are suspects at this point.

Both the Oakland Police Department and the FBI is investigating.

Anyone with information can call the OPD Burglary Section at (510) 238-3951. People can also contact the FBI Art Crime Team at Tips.fbi.gov or 1-800-CALL-FBI.

The FBI Art Crime Team is a highly specialized unit of about 20 agents tasked with investigating art theft, forgery, or, as in this case, antiquities and cultural property trafficking, police said in a news release.

Bay City News contributed to this story.

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