Oakland mayor’s city-owned SUV stolen from outside City Hall

A thief stole Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee’s city-owned SUV after they swiped the vehicle’s keys from City Hall, the police union said.

The Oakland Police Officers Association said the thief, who has not been arrested, jimmied the lock to get into the mayor’s office and then took the keys for the Ford Expedition used to transport her around the city.

The union said the vehicle was taken on Monday and recovered on Tuesday in Vallejo, about 25 miles north of Oakland.

“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,” union spokesman Sam Singer told KGO-TV in a statement.

Oakland police said they are following up on potential leads. The union said police have a warrant out for a suspect.

Ms. Lee issued a statement Wednesday, but did not confirm if her city-owned SUV had been nabbed.

“As with criminal cases such as this, the Oakland Police Department is actively investigating, and we cannot comment further at this time,” the mayor said. “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.”