Displaying items by tag: Security Camera

The Oakland Museum of California, which is devoted to the art, history, and natural science of California, was been burglarized for the second time in two months on Monday, January 7, 2013. During the first robbery, the thief made off with a number of objects and pieces of gold that were on view as part of an exhibition about California’s Gold Rush. This week, a thief stole a significant gold and quartz box from the same exhibition. The box, which features elaborate decorations depicting early pioneer life, could be worth as much as $800,000.

Officials believe that the most recent break-in was pre-meditated and that the burglar pinpointed specific items to steal, making their way in and out of the museum very quickly. Security camera footage confirms that the thief worked alone. Both recent burglaries occurred on Mondays, when the Oakland Museum is closed to the public. Officials are investigating whether or not the two crimes are connected.

A $12,000 reward is being offered for the safe recovery of the box, which officials fear could be melted down for its materials.

A man walking down the street with what may have been a stolen Pablo Picasso drawing was filmed by a Union Square restaurant's surveillance camera moments after the theft, police and the business' owner said Wednesday.

The footage taken just before noon Tuesday shows a well-dressed young man walking away from the Weinstein Gallery on Geary Street, where Picasso's 1965 pencil drawing, "Tête de Femme (Head of a Woman)," had just been stolen. Under his arm is a picture frame, with a newspaper covering whatever the frame holds.

Police spokesman Officer Albie Esparza said Wednesday investigators had not shown the footage to witnesses yet, but that the man is "presumably our suspect."

The footage was filmed by a security camera mounted next to the door at Lefty O'Doul's, a few doors west of the gallery. Owner Nick Bovis spotted the footage Tuesday evening and handed it to police Wednesday.

The man in the video has a dark jacket, light-colored pants and loafers with no socks, a description similar - though not identical - to the one police put out Tuesday. Witnesses told investigators the thief had dark-colored pants, not light ones, and was wearing dark glasses, which are not visible in the surveillance camera footage.

The restaurant's camera runs about 33 minutes fast, Bovis said, so the time stamp of 12:12 p.m. means the man was actually filmed at 11:39 a.m., two minutes before the gallery reported the theft.