by OAKLAND, Calif. — The Oakland Museum of California, home to one of the state’s largest collections of historical and cultural artifacts, has reported a major burglary involving the theft of more than 1,000 priceless items.
Officials say the stolen objects include a mix of historical and Native American artifacts, all of which hold immense cultural and historical value to the state’s heritage.
Priceless California History Gone Missing
Museum Director Lori Fogarty described the theft as “heartbreaking,” explaining that while the items may not carry significant monetary worth on the black market, they are irreplaceable pieces of California’s story.
“We have one of the greatest holdings of California history anywhere,” Fogarty said. “Our collection includes more than 2 million items, though only a fraction can be displayed at once.”
Among the stolen artifacts were a woven Native American basket, scrimshaws, jewelry, and an old photograph. Many of the missing objects were stored in an off-site warehouse, where the break-in occurred sometime between the night of October 15 and the early morning of October 16.
FBI Joins Investigation
The FBI Art Crime Team, a specialized national unit that investigates museum and art thefts, has joined forces with the Oakland Police Department to locate the stolen pieces.
Former FBI agent Jeff Harp explained that the Art Crime Team is made up of fewer than 20 agents nationwide, each with extensive expertise in tracking underground art trades.
“These agents have a strong network of informants and contacts that helps them recover stolen artwork,” Harp said.
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Past Thefts and Renewed Public Appeal
This isn’t the first time the Oakland Museum has been targeted. In 2012 and 2013, a thief broke into the museum’s Gold Rush exhibit on two separate occasions. The suspect was eventually caught after a pawn shop owner in Chinatown recognized a stolen jewelry box and alerted police.
Now, Fogarty hopes history will repeat itself—with public assistance leading to another recovery.
“If people are at swap meets, auctions, or pawn shops and something looks off, please let us know,” Fogarty urged.
How the Community Can Help
Officials are asking anyone with information about the theft to contact Oakland police. The museum has also released photographs of some of the stolen items in hopes that members of the public might recognize them.
Fogarty emphasized that every recovered item helps preserve California’s cultural legacy for future generations.
What do you think about the rise in museum thefts across California? Should security laws for cultural institutions be tightened? Share your thoughts in the comments on race-day-live.com.
