SUV belonging to the Oakland mayor taken from City Hall lot, suspect caught: police

Mayor’s SUV Stolen in Oakland, California

This week, a rather unusual incident took place in Oakland, California—the mayor’s SUV was stolen while City Hall was closed for President’s Day.

After the theft of Mayor Barbara Lee’s official vehicle, Sam Singer, a spokesperson for the Oakland Police Officers Association, shared some details with Fox News Digital. He mentioned that someone quietly entered the mayor’s office, took her car keys, and then drove off with the SUV from the City Hall parking lot. This all occurred on Monday. Both the mayor and her staff filed a report regarding the incident.

The vehicle was recovered around 24 hours later, according to Singer.

On Thursday, the Oakland Police confirmed that they had arrested a suspect in connection with the case.

“This afternoon, the Oakland Police Department (OPD) arrested a suspect regarding the theft of a city-owned vehicle,” the police mentioned on their Facebook page. They clarified that the investigation is ongoing and they are not releasing any more details at this time.

It turns out the suspect, identified as Logan Tel DeSilva, 29, was arrested on charges that include robbery and motor vehicle theft after the SUV was discovered in Vallejo.

Fox News Digital reached out to the OPD for more comments.

“No one in Oakland should worry about car theft, whether they’re residents, city employees, or even the mayor,” Lee remarked in a statement earlier this week. She emphasized that public safety is a major priority for the city.

This incident raises questions, particularly as it comes just months after the Oakland Police Officers Association expressed concerns about funding cuts to the police department. Singer reiterated this point, noting that private security is being utilized at City Hall and that the city spends over $20 million on private security for its properties.

“Crime in Oakland is concerningly high, and even the mayor has fallen victim to it,” Singer pointed out.

Huy Nguyen, the president of the Oakland Police Officers Association, remarked last year that the police operational strength is roughly 530 officers, stating that it would require the reduction of more than 300 officers to reach a basic standard.

Although there is recent data indicating a decline in violent crime in Oakland, the city is still ranked as the second most dangerous place to live in 2025-2026, with Memphis, Tennessee, taking the top spot.