Luiseho Indian baskets were stolen from the assistencia of Pala in San Diego County, as was a bell from Mission Dolores, since returned when recognized in an antique store. Theft from religious sites is not confined to the Franciscan missions. A bell was also stolen from the Russian Orthodox Cathedral in San Francisco. A student reported seeing a page torn from a mission songbook for sale in a Ventura antique shop. With limited funding and limited staff, mission museums and churches often must be left unattended.
Visitors wander through the complexes unsupervised.
Glass cases and low fencing provide little protection to a determined thief. At Mission Santa Barbara, several Indian baskets were stolen from a kitchen display in the museum. At least some of these were Chumash and extremely valuable. The thief scaled a fence and knew exactly what was of greatest value. There is evidence that the thief blocked open a door to the museum so that he could return at a more opportune time.