A thief allegedly stole Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee’s city-owned SUV after breaking into her office at City Hall on Feb. 16, according to local reports and law enforcement sources.

The Oakland Police Officers’ Association (OPOA) confirmed that someone tampered with the door to Lee’s office and took the keys to the vehicle, KRON 4 reported. The SUV was allegedly stolen from a garage near City Hall and later recovered in Vallejo, California, one day after the incident, according to KTVU Fox 2.

“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 spokesperson told the California Post. “The vehicle was recovered within hours. OPD is following up on potential leads.”

Lee is frequently accompanied by a combination of private security personnel and Oakland police officers, KRON 4 reported. Sources indicated that her security team primarily uses the black SUV that was taken.

Law enforcement sources said investigators have identified a suspect and obtained a warrant for that individual’s arrest. As of publication, no arrests had been made.

Authorities have not disclosed where in Vallejo the vehicle was located or provided additional details about the timeline of the alleged theft.

The incident comes as Oakland continues to struggle with high levels of property crime. According to Oakland Police Department data, the city recorded 10,439 motor vehicle thefts in 2024, down from 15,391 in 2023.

A draft study by PFM Group Consulting, obtained by The Oaklandside in April 2025, cited a police staffing shortage of 277 officers in Oakland.