OAKLAND — Mayor Barbara Lee‘s city-issued SUV was stolen over the holiday weekend from a secured City Hall parking lot, after her keys were swiped from inside the building, authorities confirmed Wednesday.
Police have identified a suspect in the heist, though no arrests have been made and investigators are working to nail down exactly how the thief might have been able to access her vehicle keys, authorities said.
The Ford Expedition, which had California exempt license plates, was found Tuesday in Vallejo, authorities said. Investigators are still working to determine whether anything of value was taken from inside the SUV.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Lee said that “no one in Oakland should have to worry about their car being stolen, whether they’re a resident, a city worker, or the mayor,” adding that “public safety is a priority across our entire city.”
The spokesperson, Justin Phillips, declined to comment further or provide more details about the theft, citing the Oakland Police Department’s active investigation.
Check back for updates to this developing story.
Jakob Rodgers is a senior breaking news reporter. Call, text or send him an encrypted message via Signal at 510-390-2351, or email him at jrodgers@bayareanewsgroup.com.