CNN Crew Targeted by Bay Area Thieves for Third Time This Year

CNN senior national correspondent Kyung Lah said her rental car was broken into while she was on assignment in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, marking the third time in the last year her car has been broken into while she was on assignment in the Bay Area.

Lah said in a series of posts on X that she was in Oakland shooting a story about crime when her “completely empty” car was broken into.

“We were across the street— this happened in seconds,” she said, adding in a second post that “Even tho the car is empty, the thieves break in and lower the seat so they can steal anything in the trunk.”

“Our trunk was empty,” she added. “If you come to San Francisco or Oakland, do not leave a single thing in your car. Ours was thankfully empty.”

After these three break-ins, Lah said she has “finally learned to not leave even a candy bar in the car anymore (still doesn’t stop the car break in but at least we don’t lose anything).” 

Back in March, Lah shared that she and CNN producer Jason Kravarik had their bags stolen out of their rental car while on assignment at San Francisco’s city hall for a story about the city’s rampant crime.

While the pair were conducting an interview at city hall, thieves broke into their car and snatched their bags “in under 4 seconds,” despite the crew having hired private security to keep watch.

The security was unsuccessful in trying to “grab the crooks” but was able to stop them from stealing other bags and was also able to snap a picture of the getaway car.

“San Francisco is a beautiful city. This is our 3rd day here and I’ve loved my time here. But if you do visit this city, know that even with hired security watching your car, it is not enough,” she wrote at the time, explaining that she was in the city “doing a story about voter discontent” because of “rampant street crime.” 

Though the reporter initially expressed concern that she might not be able to fly back to Los Angeles without her ID and passport, both of which were stolen, she later updated that Southwest Airlines was “very used to my lack-of-ID problem” because “so many people get their cars broken into and their bags stolen.” The airline gave Lah her ticket after a brief security check.

Sources in Oakland warned Lah that gas stations near the airport have been a frequent target for thieves.

“Teams here in Oakland say passengers show up crying bc their bags are all stolen, all in seconds,” she said.

The story in March had a somewhat happy ending, however: Lah ultimately updated that her bag was recovered by someone from the San Francisco Office of Civic Engagement & Immigrant Affairs. Kravarik’s bag was not recovered.

This time around, an employee for the rental-car company told Lah that of the 250 cars returned to the lot yesterday, 27 had been broken into — more than 10 percent of returned cars.