Yesterday, a county parking garage in downtown Oakland became the scene of an unusual heist: five Alameda County Sheriff's Office vehicles vanished from the secure facility, and deputies had to rely on license-plate reader surveillance to track them down. Four of the vehicles were recovered within hours, but one fully equipped sheriff's SUV is still missing, prompting a public warning and a whole lot of uneasy side-eye on local streets.
According to CBS San Francisco, the sheriff’s office said it learned just before 7:20 AM that the Alameda County Parking Garage at 165 13th Street had been burglarized and five sheriff's office vehicles had been taken. Investigators used license-plate-reader cameras to locate and recover four of them and said they are still searching for the remaining vehicle.
Where It Happened
The theft happened at Alco Park, the county-owned parking structure at 165 13th Street, a short walk from the county courthouse. County documents show the facility is managed by the Alameda County GSA, which oversees Alco Park and other county parking assets.
Why the Missing Vehicle Is Especially Concerning
The vehicle still unaccounted for is no ordinary SUV. The sheriff's office described it as a 2025 blue Ford Explorer with California "Exempt" license plate 1685265. It does not display sheriff's insignia or emblems, but it is outfitted with overhead emergency lights, sirens, radio equipment and a black front push bar, according to CBS San Francisco.
Because "Exempt" plates are issued to government-owned vehicles, the fact that this SUV still has working emergency gear raises obvious concerns about potential impersonation. The California DMV notes that certain agencies and vehicles receive special registration or identification. In light of that, the sheriff's office is urging the public to be cautious if anyone claiming to be law enforcement tries to contact them in a vehicle matching this description.
Auto Theft in Oakland: A Wider Problem
What happened in the garage is not exactly a one-off in Oakland, where vehicle theft has become a grinding, everyday headache. The Alameda County Grand Jury reported that more than 9,400 vehicles were reported stolen in the city in 2024, with recoveries often involving multiple law enforcement agencies. That kind of volume helps explain why county parking lots and garages are tempting targets and why investigators leaned on automated license-plate readers so quickly in this case.
Potential Charges and Legal Context
Under California law, taking or driving a vehicle without the owner's consent is a crime under California Legislative Information (Vehicle Code 10851) and can be treated as either a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the circumstances. Separately, impersonating a peace officer is prohibited by California Legislative Information (Penal Code 538d), which makes it illegal to use badges, insignia or similar items to falsely present oneself as law enforcement.
What Officials and Residents Should Do
The sheriff's office is asking anyone with information about the missing SUV to contact investigators and is warning people not to approach the vehicle themselves. The Alameda County Sheriff's Office also maintains a community alert about impersonation scams and advises residents to verify identification through official channels or call dispatch if they are unsure about the legitimacy of someone claiming to be an officer.
