OAKLAND — California police are investigating the theft of more than 1,000 artifacts from a museum’s collection, including metalwork jewelry, Native American baskets, and everyday memorabilia such as athletic trophies that trace the state’s history, according to the Associated Press.
The burglary occurred in the early morning of Oct. 15 at an off-site storage facility of the Oakland Museum of California, police said in a news release Wednesday.
Museum director Lori Fogarty said the investigation was being made public because some of the missing artifacts might surface at flea markets, antique shops, or pawn stores.
“They’re not just a loss to the museum,” Fogarty said. “They’re a loss to the public, to our community—and we’re hoping our community can help bring them home.”
She added that the theft appeared to be a crime of opportunity rather than a targeted art heist. “It seems the thieves found a way in, grabbed what was easy to take, and fled quickly,” she said.
Among the stolen items are neckpieces by the late artist and metalsmith Florence Resnikoff, a pair of scrimshaw walrus tusks, and Native American baskets. Much of the haul, Fogarty noted, consists of 20th-century historical memorabilia, including campaign pins and athletic awards.
The Oakland Museum of California’s mission is to document the art, history, and natural environment of the state. Its collection spans California artists from the late 18th century to the present and includes artifacts, photographs, specimens, and sound recordings. The museum has previously showcased exhibitions on the Black Power movement and student activism.
John Romero, a retired Los Angeles Police Department captain who once headed the commercial crimes unit, told the Los Angeles Times the stolen goods might already be on the market, given that the burglary happened two weeks ago. Detectives are expected to review resale platforms like Craigslist and eBay, along with antique networks that deal in collectible items.
“These people are after quick cash, not full appraised value,” Romero said. “They need to unload it fast.”
In a similar 2013 incident, an Oakland man broke into the museum itself and stole a California Gold Rush–era jewelry box. That artifact was later traced to a pawn shop with help from the public—a response Fogarty hopes to see again.
Oakland Police declined to release additional details but confirmed they are working with the FBI’s specialized Art Crime Team, which investigates theft, forgery, and trafficking of cultural property.
The heist took place just four days before thieves in Paris stole priceless Napoleonic jewels from the Louvre. Although arrests have been made in that case, the jewels remain missing. — Agencies
