Lock-picking class seen as bad idea for mayor of city with lots of burglaries

(CBS/AP) OAKLAND, Calif. - Hypothetically, as mayor of a big city, if your town is experiencing an increase in burglaries, what would you do? Do you offer a class in how to pick locks?

Say what?

Believe it or not, that is what Oakland's mayor Jean Quan recently did - and no, it didn't go over very well with constituents.

Quan's timing was far from impeccable. According to CBS San Francisco, last year, Oakland endured a more than 40-percent jump in burglaries. Then, in a recent newsletter, she promoted a class on picking locks.

The intent was to help people who misplace their keys, according to an article in the Oakland Tribune.

"How could she do possibly do that in this climate? What's next? The fundamentals of armed robbery," one reader responded.

Another citizen posted a letter written to Quan asking that the class be cancelled.

The mayor responded Wednesday, CBS San Francisco reported, acknowledging in a written statement that the listing struck a sour note in a city struggling with crime.

"I've heard from people who are upset about the lock-picking class item," she wrote.

"I understand their reaction, and I apologize."

Lock up that idea, and throw away the key.