OAKLAND — At least two people stole more than 1,000 items from a storage facility containing artifacts belonging to the Oakland Museum of California earlier this month, authorities said Wednesday.
Police and the FBI were investigating the heist, which happened just before 3:30 a.m. on Oct. 15 at the facility. Police did not give a location for that facility.
Authorities said Oakland police believe at least two people were involved but that there could be more. The items included Native American baskets, jewelry and other unspecified artifacts. Authorities said the value of the theft was in excess of $100,000.
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“The theft that occurred represents a brazen act that robs the public of our state’s cultural heritage,” Oakland Museum of California Executive Director and CEO Lori Fogarty said in a statement. “Most of these objects have been given to the Museum by generous donors.”
Fogarty said museum officials are working with the FBI and police detectives “to see that those objects are returned.”
Police urged anyone with information to contact the Oakland Police Department burglary section at 510-238-3951 or the FBI Art Crime Team at tips.fbi.gov or 1-800-225-5324.
Staff writer Harry Harris contributed to this story.
