More than 1,000 artifacts were stolen from the Oakland Museum of California's off-site storage facility on October 15, 2023. The thieves broke in around 3:30 a.m., stealing jewelry, precious metals, pearls, Native American baskets and tools, antique daguerreotypes, political pins, laptops, and cameras. No security staff were on duty, and the entry was not through a door. The Oakland Police Department and the FBI's Art Crime Team are investigating, and no arrests have been made. The museum delayed announcing the theft to protect the investigation.
This theft matters because it represents a significant loss of shared cultural heritage, with many items donated by the community. The museum holds over two million historical artifacts in its 100,000-square-foot warehouse, and director Lori Fogarty emphasized the institution's responsibility to preserve these objects for the public. The incident also marks the third burglary at OMCA in 15 years, following two high-profile thefts in 2012 and 2013 by Andre Taray Franklin, raising concerns about security at cultural institutions.