Oakland Museum has second burglary in two months

The Oakland Museum of California has suffered its second burglary in two months, with at least one thief making off with items including a valuable historic box.

The missing box is a made of quartz and gold and dates from the Gold Rush era. An Oakland city official told the San Francisco Chronicle that the box, which features ornate decorations, might be worth more than $800,000.

Oakland Museum officials said they are offering a $12,000 reward for the safe recovery of the box.

A statement from museum director Lori Fogarty said the break-in “was a targeted and strategic theft, with the burglar targeting specific items and entering and exiting the Museum very quickly.”

In November, the museum experienced a burglary that resulted a number of missing historical artifacts. The Chronicle said that both break-ins occurred on Mondays, when the museum is closed to the public.

The Oakland Museum of California was founded in 1969 and hosts exhibitions devoted to art, history and natural science.

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