A total of five Alameda County vehicles were stolen from a garage in Oakland, California. While these have been recovered, including some sheriff’s office units, the suspects, still unidentified, continue to be at large.
As reported by KTVU, citing the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, the incident occurred on Sunday, June 7. At around 7:15 a.m., the ACSO learned that the aforementioned vehicles were stolen from a parking garage located at 165 13th Street.
A security guard told ABC7 that it appeared that at least one thief, possibly multiple thieves, had forced their way through the garage gate. This was later confirmed by ASCO Sgt. Roberto Morales, following a preliminary investigation.
As per the ACSO, one of the stolen vehicles belonged to a rental company. Another one was an unmarked police vehicle, a 2025 Ford Explorer, alongside other department vehicles.
Tracking Them Down
Reportedly, local Oakland authorities managed to recover four out of the five vehicles with relative ease. This was possible thanks to automated license plate reader technology.
Still, the unmarked police vehicle had yet to be located. The ACSO even went as far as to warn citizens about the Ford Explorer and anyone claiming to be law enforcement agents.
Hours later, at around 4:20 p.m., the Ford Explorer was found. And while all the vehicles were eventually recovered, there are still many unanswered questions.
Questions Needing Answers
As of Sunday, June 7, the ACSO has not made any arrests in connection with the incident. Furthermore, it is unclear the exact number of thieves who allegedly took the vehicles from the garage.
Sgt. Morales, meanwhile, revealed that no weapons were inside the stolen vehicles. Still, sets of keys might have been inside them, Morales said, but that remains to be confirmed.
“Now we are doing the investigative part. Who did it. Why it happened and is there something we can do to increase security at the county garage,” he added.
Concerned Neighbors
While authorities continue investigating the incident, Oakland neighbors have expressed their concerns. Among them is Leanne Hilgart, who feels that civilian vehicles are more exposed to dangers than ever.
“So if police cars are getting stolen, a whole group of them, then how are we supposed to assume everybody else’s cars are even potentially safe?” she asked.
Meanwhile, theorizing on what might have been the motive behind the act, UCLA professor Jeff Brantingham believed this was, most likely, a “joyriding type scenario.” After all, official vehicles being targeted is “highly unusual,” he added.