One of the oddest car thefts of the year just occurred in Oakland. Someone allegedly snuck into Oakland City Hall, camped out all weekend, and then drove away in the Mayor’s SUV before lawmakers returned for the workweek.

The Oakland Police’s search for the stolen city-owned Ford Expedition was very public. But inside sources gave the San Francisco Chronicle the story behind the theft. City Hall is open to the public during regular business hours (9-4, Monday through Friday). Video evidence shows the suspect “gained access” on Friday, February 13th, then “camped out” on the 11th floor all weekend.

City Hall was closed for Presidents’ Day on Monday, February 16th. But eventually, the suspect would need to scram or get caught. And they appeared to know it. Their exit strategy was even more harebrained than their original slumber party plan. They broke into Mayor Barbara Lee’s office and snagged the keys to her city-owned Ford Expedition. Then they started up the car—which was parked in the same compound—and drove away. No one knew the SUV was missing until they arrived at work on Tuesday morning.

The Oakland Police worked rapidly. They reviewed security camera footage to develop a description of the suspect. Then they “tracked” the SUV, likely using their network of automatic license plate readers that monitor traffic.

Tracking down the Oakland mayor’s stolen SUV

The suspect allegedly drove the Ford Expedition approximately to Vallejo, approximately 30 minutes north. Then they’d parked it on a residential street. Neighbors say the driver just left the vehicle there.

The police arrived and recovered the vehicle “within hours.” They also walked up to the house it was parked in front of and identified the suspect inside: 29-year-old Logan Tell DeSilva. A San Francisco Chronicle reporter watched the entire arrest unfold. Officers handcuffed a skinny young man with long blond hair and questioned an older man. They let the older man hug the younger one, then they put the young man in the back of a cruiser. 

Mayor Lee said, “As with criminal cases such as this, the Oakland Police Department is actively investigating, and we cannot comment further at this time.”

She added, “No one in Oakland should have to worry about their car being stolen, whether they’re a resident, a city worker, or the Mayor. Public safety is a priority across our entire city.”

Kevin Jenkins was interim mayor in 2025. He admits that the same SUV was broken into while parked in the city-owned garage behind City Hall. He said, “We have to tighten up security around City Hall…A few council members have come to me with complaints around their sense of security in and around City Hall.”

Oakland pays ABC Security $400,000 monthly for security at various properties. During the Monday holiday, a single guard was patrolling the entire closed civic center complex.