A thief managed to “squat” in City Hall before taking the keys to Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee’s expensive SUV, valued at $75,000, according to reports from the California Post.
Lee’s black Ford Expedition was reported as stolen on Tuesday, but it reappeared just a few hours later in Vallejo, California, due to a tracking device it was equipped with. The suspect has not yet been apprehended.
According to sources, the individual had been hiding in the building since Friday and surprisingly went undetected, even with a prominent security service patrolling the area.
Officials indicated the suspect set up camp in an unoccupied office on the 11th floor during the President’s Day weekend.
They appear to have broken into Lee’s office on Monday and exited the building using an unsecured entrance to the parking lot.
Police managed to identify the suspect from security camera footage and have since issued a warrant for their arrest, as shared by an insider with the San Francisco Chronicle.
Images taken by the publication showed the office building largely vacant, with only some employees working from home.
There were minor scratches around the lock of Lee’s office, with a sign instructing visitors to “check in at the front desk.”
Notably, an elevator in the area was marked out of service, and the photos did not indicate any workers present.
The mayor’s reserved parking lot was notably empty, and it’s unclear where her Ford Expedition is currently located.
Lee expressed frustration, stating, “No one in Oakland should have to worry about their car being stolen, whether it’s a resident, a city employee, or the mayor. Public safety is a city-wide priority.”
Despite a $35.3 million contract with ABC Security Services to oversee security at city buildings, questions linger about how the thief escaped notice.
Interestingly, this situation ties into a federal corruption investigation surrounding former Mayor Sheng Tao, which adds another layer to the story. ABC Security Services has not been accused of any crime, though.
The area reportedly has the highest auto theft rate nationally, with only 490 police officers available for a population of 440,000.
A spokesman for the Auckland Police Officers’ Association indicated that response times for car thefts could stretch to three days due to inadequate staffing.
There have been previous incidents involving Mayor Lee’s vehicle; it was reportedly broken into last year while parked in a garage behind City Hall.
In light of continuing issues, City Council President Kevin Jenkins emphasized the need to enhance security around City Hall, as other city staff have raised similar concerns about vehicle tampering and thefts in downtown Oakland.
Lee chose not to provide further comments when reached out to. Similarly, ABC Security Services had no additional statements to make.
