Oakland’s crime came right to City Hall’s doorstep this week, and the office of Democratic Mayor Barbara Lee.
After a thief broke into Oakland, California’s City Hall office and stole her keys, Lee’s city-owned SUV was also stolen, according to a spokesperson for the Oakland Police Officers Association.
“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,” the spokesman said in a statement. “The vehicle was recovered within hours. OPD is following up on potential leads.”
(Video Credit: KRON 4)
“The vehicle, a Ford Expedition, was later recovered in Vallejo, Oakland POA spokesman Sam Singer said. The details of the theft were corroborated by two other people familiar with the incident,” the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
“Preliminary reports said the door to Lee’s office appeared to have been tampered with, and that investigators believe the keys were taken on Monday, the Presidents’ Day holiday. Officials discovered that the car was missing the following day, according to two of the sources,” the paper noted.
Lee, who narrowly won the 2024 mayor’s race, said no one in the city should be afraid of having their car stolen.
“As with criminal cases such as this, the Oakland Police Department is actively investigating, and we cannot comment further at this time. No one in Oakland should have to worry about their car being stolen, whether they’re a resident, a city worker, or the Mayor. Public safety is a priority across our entire city,” the Democrat said in a statement.
FBI data showed 9,914 motor vehicle thefts in Oakland in 2024, one of the highest rates in the nation, the New York Post noted, adding that the city’s crime rate was 4 times the national average in 2024.
Social media users reacted to the story of the mayor’s vehicle theft.
Oh that’s rich. Maybe this will slow down her dribble about Oakland being a safe place
— Jim Gray (@zippysfun) February 18, 2026
How’s that defund the police campaign working?
— Firecracker (@Firecracker2030) February 19, 2026
Its REALLY HARD not to laugh at this. Karma has a way of showing up when you least expect it.
— Shelby Varney (@nyxxiana) February 19, 2026
Good, it’s about time they started feeling the effects of their liberal policies.
— R J 4USA1st (@AlphaCo487) February 18, 2026
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.
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