Video shows masked thieves raiding art museum artifacts in bold overnight heist: officials
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The Oakland Police Department, in collaboration with the FBI, is seeking assistance from the public to identify two individuals captured on surveillance footage during a museum robbery. This incident involved the theft of over 1,000 historical artifacts.

The robbery took place around 3 a.m. on October 15, at a storage facility managed by the Oakland Museum of California, according to official reports.

The museum has released a statement suggesting that initial investigations point to the heist being “a crime of opportunity, not a targeted theft.”

Surveillance footage of suspects allegedly stealing artwork from the Oakland Museum of California

Authorities are actively pursuing two suspects linked to this overnight museum robbery that occurred in Oakland on October 15, 2025.

“There is no evidence to suggest that the individuals deliberately targeted the museum’s storage or were after specific artworks or artifacts,” the statement elaborated. “It seems they entered the premises and took whatever items were most accessible.”

In an Oct. 31 update, museum officials revealed that some of the items stolen consisted of historic memorabilia, including political pins, souvenir tokens and award ribbons – along with several Native American items.

Surveillance footage of suspects allegedly stealing artwork from the Oakland Museum of California

One of the suspects has been described by authorities as having a thin build, wearing a plaid long-sleeve shirt, black hoodie, blue jeans and black shoes, according to KTVU. (Oakland Museum of California)

“Additional stolen artifacts of particular sensitivity include six Native American baskets, several 19th-century scrimshaw objects, and a number of daguerreotypes and modernist metalwork jewelry pieces,” the statement said.

Surveillance video shows two masked men entering through an interior hallway of the storage facility before exiting into an outdoor area enclosed by a metal fence.

One of the suspects has been described by authorities as having a thin build, wearing a plaid long-sleeve shirt, black hoodie, blue jeans and black shoes, according to KTVU. The second suspect reportedly has a heavy build, and was wearing a blue sweatshirt, blue pants, black gloves and white shoes.

Surveillance footage of suspects allegedly stealing artwork from the Oakland Museum of California

The suspects allegedly stole more than 1,000 historical artifacts from the museum, in what officials are calling a “crime of opportunity.” (Oakland Museum of California)

Across the country, 19-year-old Joshua Vavrin was arrested in New York City after he allegedly hurled water at two priceless paintings at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Monday, according to the New York Post.

Vavrin allegedly damaged the​​ 16th century canvas piece, “Madonna and Child with Saints” and the 19th-century oil-on-canvas painting, “Princesse de Broglie,” the outlet reported. He also allegedly ripped two tapestries off the wall, causing over $4,000 in damages.

The FBI, Oakland Museum of California, Metropolitan Museum of Art and NYPD did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. 

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