Over 1,000 artifacts stolen from California museum in 'brazen' early-morning heist
The thieves stole many Native American historic items
More than 1,000 artifacts were stolen in a heist in California, sparking a frenzied search.
The robbers managed to steal historic pieces, including Native American baskets, jewelry and other objects, from the Oakland Museum of California’s storage facility.
The incident occurred at approximately 3:30 a.m. on October 15, when individuals broke into the off-site building and stole items from the museum’s collection.
According to Lori Fogarty, Executive Director and CEO of the Oakland Museum, in a press release: “The theft that occurred represents a brazen act that robs the public of our state’s cultural heritage.”
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The stolen artifacts included many that the museum’s benefactors had donated. Now, they are working 'in close partnership' with the city, police and the FBI’s Art Crime Team to locate them.
One of the items stolen was the ‘Slot-Hinged Titanium Neckpiece’ by Florence Resnikoff, in 1982. Scrimshaw walrus tusks were also amongst the stolen items.
According to the Oakland Police Department (OPD), the case is being investigated in collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
On its official Facebook page, the police stated it is 'investigating a burglary that occurred just before 3:30 a.m. October 15, 2025, at the Oakland Museum of California’s off-site storage facility'.
It shared: “The suspect(s) broke into the facility and stole more than 1,000 items from the Museum’s collection, including Native American baskets, jewelry, laptops, and other historic artifacts.”
As per the police, the FBI Art Crime Team is a ‘highly specialized unit of approximately 20 agents across the United States who are tasked with investigating all matters related to art, whether it be theft of artwork, fraud, forgery, or, in this case, antiquities and cultural property trafficking'.
The burglary comes just one month after the museum announced a new Native American exhibition, which shows historic fire practices, known as 'good fire'.
'Good Fire: Tending Native Lands' is a new exhibition that explores how Native communities in Northern California have used controlled fire to care for their lands.
The museum explained in a press release that the exhibition was organized in collaboration with ‘Native fire practitioners, artists, ecologists, and cultural leaders based in Northern California’, adding: “The exhibition begins with an immersive sensory environment simulating the experience of a cultural burn.”
The robbery comes amidst other high-profile cases, such as the burglary at the Louvre in France and the disappearance of a Pablo Picasso painting.
On October 26, it was announced that multiple suspects had been arrested in connection with the robbery at the Louvre.
The police encouraged anyone with information to contact the OPD Burglary Section at (510) 238-3951, or the FBI Art Crime Team at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324).
Britt Jones