A television reporter covering a spate of robberies in Oakland, California, had her purse stolen just a few feet away from her during a live segment outside of the police headquarters.

A brazen thief broke into a KTVU news vehicle about 10 p.m. Monday just steps away from where Heather Holmes was doing her live report about a violent assault in the city’s Temescal District, the station reported.

Miss Holmes said she chose to do her report in front of Oakland’s police headquarters instead of the site of the afternoon attack because she thought it would be safer.

When Miss Holmes and her photographer returned to the van, they discovered her bag, containing cash, credit cards and other personal items, had been stolen. A police report was filed with the Oakland Police Department, KTVU reported.

“R u kidding me? Doing a live report at @oaklandpoliceca headquarters & my purse is stolen from the live truck! We were parked outside #OPD!!” Miss Holmes tweeted early Tuesday.

“Oh the irony of it all…while reporting on violent mugging, my purse is stolen. Thieves used my bank card 20 mins after swiping my bag,” she added. “Credit cards now canceled. Locks changed. Lesson here… be aware of your surroundings at all times, including at police headquarters.”

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