A thief allegedly stole the Oakland, California, mayor’s SUV after breaking into her City Hall office on Feb. 16.
The Oakland Police Officers’ Association (OPOA) confirmed that someone had tampered with the door to Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee’s office and seized the keys to the city-owned car, according to KRON 4. The vehicle was allegedly stolen from a garage close to City Hall and retrieved in the nearby city of Vallejo, California a day after the incident occurred, KTVU Fox 2 reported. (RELATED: Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao Faces Recall After Massive Crime Wave)
“The Oakland Police Department is investigating the theft of a city-owned vehicle. On February 17, 2026, OPD was notified that the vehicle was stolen from Oakland City Hall,” an Oakland Police Department (OPD) spokesperson told the California Post. “The vehicle was recovered within hours. OPD is following up on potential leads.”
Lee is frequently guarded by a mix of private security personnel and Oakland cops, KRON 4 reported. Sources said her security unit mostly uses the black SUV.
Sources said police have determined a suspect and secured a warrant for their arrest. No suspects have been taken into custody as of publication.
Exclusive | Oakland mayor has car was stolen from City Hall office https://t.co/fni1CX1XZS pic.twitter.com/1O9gg6ijfS
— California Post (@californiapost) February 18, 2026
The OPD and OPOA have not disclosed where in Vallejo the vehicle was retrieved from or the timing of the alleged theft.
Oakland has some of the highest rates of motor vehicle theft in the country, with 10,439 motor vehicle theft crimes in 2024, a drop from 15,391 in 2023, according to the Oakland Police Department. PFM Group Consulting cited a severe police staffing shortage of 277 officers in Oakland in a draft study obtained by The Oaklandside in April 2025.
Oakland Police have not responded to the Daily Caller for comment as of publication.
