Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee’s office at City Hall broken into, SUV stolen

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) — The city-owned SUV that is used to shuttle around Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee was stolen this week after someone allegedly took the keys from the mayor’s City Hall office, according to the Oakland Police Officers Association.

The Oakland Police Department confirmed to ABC7 Eyewitness News on Wednesday that it is investigating the reports of the stolen vehicle. Hours after it was taken, OPD said the vehicle was recovered without releasing any further details.

Sam Singer, a spokesman for OPOA, told ABC7 that the Ford Expedition was recovered in Vallejo. Singer said an individual got the SUV keys after apparently jerry-rigging the lock to get into Lee’s office, according to preliminary police reports.

“This says a lot about how bad crime in Oakland really is – when the mayor’s office is broken into, her car is stolen and dumped in Vallejo. Everybody is at risk,” he said.

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Singer said police believe the vehicle was stolen over the President’s Day holiday around 10 a.m. and was recovered on Tuesday.

No arrests have been made yet, but Singer said there is a suspect and that OPD has a warrant out for that person’s arrest.

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In a statement to to ABC7 Eyewitness News, the mayor acknowledged that OPD is actively investigating and said police cannot comment further at this time.

“No one in Oakland should have to worry about their car being stolen,” Lee said in a statement. “Whether they’re a resident, a city worker, or the Mayor. Public safety is a priority across our entire city.”

This is a developing story. ABC7 Eyewitness News Reporter Monica Madden will have more at 5 p.m.