US EditionOver 1,000 Artifacts Stolen in Major Oakland Museum Heist
More than 1,000 artifacts valued over $100,000 were stolen in a suspected opportunistic burglary at the Oakland Museum of California's off-site storage facility.
- On Oct. 15, the Oakland Police Department reported a pre-dawn burglary just before 3:30 a.m. at an off-site storage facility, where more than 1,000 items were stolen from the Oakland Museum of California.
- Housed in a 100,000-square-foot warehouse in the Fruitvale District, the Oakland Museum of California stores more than two million objects, most donated by generous donors.
- Stolen items included Native American baskets, jewelry, laptops, historic photographs, scrimshaw walrus tusks and neckpieces by Florence Resnikoff, while storage bays were wrenched open and security staff were off duty.
- On October 29, the Oakland Police Department and the FBI's Art Crime Team asked the public for tips after waiting 14 days to avoid jeopardizing the investigation, providing contact numbers.
- Amid global art-heist attention, Lori Fogarty, Executive Director and CEO of the Oakland Museum of California, called the theft brazen and noted experts link quick resale to platforms such as Craigslist and eBay.
130 Articles
130 Articles
New Hampshire Union Leader
The Washington PostCalifornia’s own Louvre heist: Jewelry and artifacts stolen from museum
A titanium neckpiece crafted by a famed metalsmith. A marine animal’s tooth etched with a drawing roughly 200 years old. Baskets woven by unidentified Native American artists.
1,000 Artifacts Stolen in Oakland Museum Burglary
OAKLAND, Calif.—More than 1,000 historical artifacts were stolen from the Oakland Museum of California earlier this month, according to an Oakland Police Department (OPD) announcement on Oct. 29. The burglary occurred just before 3:30 a.m. on Oct. 15 at the museum’s off-site storage facility. One or more individuals broke into the structure and took the items, including jewelry, laptops, Native American baskets, and other artifacts, the announce…
FBI Investigates Massive Native American Artifact Theft in CA
Federal investigators have launched a sweeping artifact theft investigation after more than 1,000 priceless Native American and historic California artifacts were stolen from an Oakland Museum of California storage facility. The overnight burglary occurred around 3:30 a.m. on Oct. 15, 2025, when thieves broke into the museum’s off-site warehouse and made off with baskets, jewelry, and other irreplaceable pieces of cultural heritage, according to…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 61% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
