Over 1,000 Artifacts Stolen from Oakland Museum
In a significant theft, over 1,000 historical items, including Native American jewelry and various artifacts, were taken from a storage facility at the Oakland Museum in California. The break-in occurred around 3:30 a.m. on October 15, as reported by local police.
This facility contained a wide range of antiquities related to the Native American tribes that previously inhabited the region. It’s still unclear how many individuals were involved in the heist, but the stolen items include not just jewelry, but also photographs, laptops, artwork, and more.
Despite security cameras and an alarm system, no staff were present during the break-in, and the theft went unnoticed until the following morning.
“We think this was more of an opportunity crime rather than a planned attack,” stated Lori Fogarty, the museum’s executive director and CEO, speaking to the media. She emphasized that the museum has a large number of items frequently utilized by researchers and scholars.
Fogarty noted that the full extent of the theft is still being determined, as staff work with insurance agents to assess the total value of the missing items.
The museum chose to withhold news of the theft for two weeks to allow law enforcement to investigate without public interference. “Theft from a museum is a serious federal crime. We have been collaborating closely with both the Oakland Police Department and the FBI, who advised us that now is the appropriate time to disclose this information,” she explained.
All of the museum’s 2 million artifacts are city-owned, raising concerns about their safety and preservation.
This incident isn’t isolated. In late 2012 and early 2013, a man named Andre Talay Franklin was apprehended while attempting to sell an $800,000 gold rush-era jewelry box stolen from another museum, resulting in a four-year prison sentence for him.
Just recently, a burglary at the Louvre in France involved thieves on scooters making off with some of the nation’s most famous jewels, including a crown that was unfortunately damaged when it was dropped during their escape.
In another notable robbery, a trio disguised as construction workers broke into a Queens residence, stealing $3.2 million in cash and jewelry hidden in a safe.
