Mayor Praised Defunding Police; Now Her SUV Has Been Swiped From City Hall

Two individuals holding protest signs with messages about police reform

Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee’s security detail SUV was stolen from City Hall after a suspect camped inside the building for days undetected, exposing catastrophic security failures in a city grappling with rampant crime despite leadership’s assurances.

Story Snapshot

Suspect Logan Tell DeSilva, 29, camped inside City Hall for days before breaking into Mayor Lee’s office on Presidents’ Day and stealing her security SUV
The thief jerry-rigged the mayor’s office lock, grabbed keys, and drove off with the city-owned Ford Expedition from a nearby garage
Oakland Police recovered the vehicle in Vallejo the next day and arrested DeSilva on charges of burglary, auto theft, and vandalism
The Oakland Police Officers Association highlighted the incident as proof of how severe crime has become, even reaching the mayor’s own office
The break-in exploited remote work trends and holiday closures that left City Hall floors empty with no security guards present

Criminal Camps Inside City Hall Undetected

Logan Tell DeSilva entered Oakland City Hall during regular work hours on Friday, February 13, and set up camp on the building’s 11th floor where the City Attorney’s offices are located. He remained inside the government building undetected for days, exploiting security vulnerabilities and empty floors resulting from remote work policies. When Presidents’ Day arrived on Monday, February 16, City Hall closed to the public with no security guards on duty. DeSilva seized the opportunity, breaking into Mayor Barbara Lee’s third-floor office around 10 a.m., jerry-rigging the lock to gain entry and stealing keys to her security detail’s Ford Expedition SUV from the nearby garage.

Quick Recovery Exposes Broader Security Failures

The Oakland Police Department recovered the stolen SUV in Vallejo on Tuesday, February 17, just one day after the theft. By Wednesday, OPD confirmed their investigation was underway, and the Oakland Police Officers Association reported that a suspect had been identified with an arrest warrant issued. Mayor Lee released a statement declaring that “no one in Oakland should have to worry about their car being stolen” and affirming that “public safety is a priority across our entire city.” On Thursday, February 19, police arrested DeSilva on suspicion of burglary, auto theft, and vandalism. The investigation remains active as authorities examine how the suspect accessed the building, potentially using cameras or access cards to move freely through City Hall.

Police Union Sounds Alarm on Crime Crisis

Oakland Police Officers Association spokesman Sam Singer used the incident to underscore the severity of Oakland’s crime problem, stating “This says a lot about how bad crime in Oakland really is.” The association emphasized that the brazen theft demonstrates crime risks affecting “everybody,” even reaching the mayor’s own office. This perspective contradicts Oakland’s 2025 crime data showing downward trends, raising questions among critics about data accuracy given ongoing property crimes. The incident highlights tensions between the mayor’s office and the police union, with the association leveraging the theft to push for increased law enforcement resources and funding. For concerned citizens watching government officials fail to secure even their own facilities, this represents another example of failed leadership prioritizing rhetoric over results.

City Hall Vulnerabilities Demand Immediate Action

The theft exposed multiple security lapses at Oakland’s City Hall that demand urgent correction. The building’s garage required no key fobs for access, allowing anyone to reach parked vehicles once inside. Holiday closures eliminated security guard presence while remote work policies left entire floors vacant and unsupervised. Video footage ultimately aided in identifying the suspect, but only after the crime occurred and the perpetrator had roamed freely through government offices for days. These failures erode public trust in municipal safety and raise costs for taxpayers who must fund vehicle recovery, repairs, and overdue security upgrades. The incident serves as a wake-up call that soft-on-crime policies and inadequate security measures have real consequences, even for those crafting such policies.