Oakland, CA – Five vehicles, including at least one from the Alameda County Sheriff's Office, were stolen from a county parking garage located at 165 13th Street in downtown Oakland early Sunday morning. The incident, discovered around 7:15 a.m. by a Sheriff's Office employee, led to a rapid response from authorities. All five vehicles have since been successfully recovered.
Initially, four vehicles were recovered, leaving one outstanding. The missing vehicle was identified as a 2025 blue Ford Explorer with California Exempt plates 1685265, belonging to the Sheriff's Office. "Authorities do not believe there is a threat to the public at this time," stated John Zuchelli of NBC Bay Area in an initial report, a sentiment echoed by the Sheriff's Office.
The presence of emergency equipment on the Sheriff's vehicle prompted a public advisory for vigilance, urging caution if approached by anyone claiming to be law enforcement in a vehicle matching the description. The Sheriff's Office emphasized the high priority of the case, deploying all available resources to ensure public safety and recover the vehicles.
By Sunday afternoon, after 4 p.m., the final outstanding vehicle was also recovered, bringing the total number of recovered vehicles to five. While officials have not yet released specific details on how the last vehicle was located, the full recovery marks a significant development in the investigation. The incident underscores potential vulnerabilities in security protocols at county facilities.
Investigations into the burglary and the individuals responsible for the theft are ongoing. The Alameda County Sheriff's Office is expected to review its security measures following the breach, which saw multiple official vehicles stolen from a secured garage.
