A thief apparently broke into Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske's work vehicle and stole his 9-mm Glock semiautomatic service pistol.

The theft happened sometime between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Dec. 26, when Kerlikowske's black Crown Victoria was parked on Sixth Avenue near Olive Way, police spokeswoman Debra Brown said yesterday. She said the weapon wasn't in plain view.

It didn't appear that anything else was taken, but Brown couldn't say how the thief got into the locked vehicle.

Though Seattle police officers are required to carry their weapons while in city limits, it's not uncommon — or against policy — to lock a gun in a car, Brown said.

"It's embarrassing ... to the chief, as it would be for any officer, to have his gun stolen," she said. "Obviously, the weapon has already fallen into the wrong hands."