In a daring overnight heist, more than a thousand historic artifacts were stolen from an Oakland Museum of California storage facility. This theft included priceless Native American baskets, jewelry, and other invaluable pieces, triggering a joint investigation by the FBI and the Oakland Police Department.

The burglary unfolded in the early hours of October 15, 2025. Around 3:30 a.m., thieves breached the museum’s off-site storage location, making off with a vast array of over 1,000 objects. Among the stolen items were significant cultural artifacts such as Native American baskets and jewelry, alongside modern valuables like laptops, representing a profound loss to California’s storied past.

In response to this incident, the FBI’s Art Crime Team has been called to assist in the investigation. This specialized unit, comprising about 20 agents across the nation, is dedicated to handling cases of art theft, forgery, fraud, and the illegal trafficking of cultural property. Their expertise will be crucial in the effort to recover these irreplaceable items.

The Oakland Police Department confirmed the sequence of events, highlighting the severity of the breach and the significant cultural heritage now in jeopardy. As this investigation unfolds, the combined efforts of local law enforcement and federal experts aim to return these treasures to their rightful place.

Suspects broke into the Oakland Museum of California storage facility Oct. 15, 2025, and stole more than 1,000 items from the museum’s collection, including Native American baskets, jewelry, laptops and other historic artifacts. (Oakland Museum of California via Oakland PD)

“This theft represents a brazen act that robs the public of our state’s cultural heritage,” Lori Fogarty, executive director and CEO of the Oakland Museum of California said. “Most of these objects have been given to the museum by generous donors. We are working in close partnership with the City of Oakland, the Oakland Police Department and the FBI to see that these objects are returned.”

Fogarty said the museum is working to complete an inventory of the stolen items and determine their total value. No arrests have been made.

An undated photo released by the Oakland Museum of California Oct. 15, 2025, shows the “Slot-Hinged Titanium Neckpiece” by artist Florence Resnikoff at the museum in Oakland, Calif. (Oakland Museum of California via Oakland PD)

Authorities are urging anyone with information to contact the OPD Burglary Section at 510-238-3951 or the FBI Art Crime Team at Tips.fbi.gov or 1-800-CALL-FBI.

The Oakland break-in happened just days before a shocking $102 million jewel heist at the Louvre Museum in Paris that stunned the art world and raised new questions about museum security worldwide.

An undated photo released by the Oakland Museum of California Oct. 15, 2025, shows Florence Resnikoff’s “Rutilated Quartz Dome Neckpiece” on display at the museum in Oakland, Calif. (Oakland Museum of California via Oakland PD)

On Oct. 19, 2025, a crew of thieves used a basket lift to scale the Louvre’s façade, forced open a window and smashed display cases before escaping with a trove of royal jewels in just eight minutes, according to French officials.

The Louvre’s director, Laurence des Cars, acknowledged there was a “terrible failure” in the museum’s security.

A police car in the courtyard of the Louvre, one week after the robbery, Oct. 26, 2025, in Paris.  (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)

The thieves slipped away with a total of eight objects, including a sapphire diadem, necklace and single earring from a set linked to 19th century queens Marie-Amélie and Hortense.

They also stole an emerald necklace and earrings tied to Empress Marie-Louise, Napoleon Bonaparte’s second wife, and a reliquary brooch. Empress Eugénie’s diamond diadem and her large corsage-bow brooch — an imperial ensemble of rare craftsmanship — were also part of the loot.

Eugénie’s emerald-set imperial crown with more than 1,300 diamonds was later found outside the museum, damaged but recoverable.