The masked bandit who broke into a DC restaurant and made off with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s expensive Gucci purse, filled with thousands of dollars in cash, confidential government documents, and her DHS badge, has been caught, sources said Saturday, reported the New York Post.
Noem, 53, was out celebrating Easter family dinner at The Capital Burger, a mile from the White House, when the slick heist took place on April 20. Her designer Gucci shoulder bag, slung carelessly at her feet, was stolen in a matter of seconds by a hooded thief with a surgical mask and a ball cap, a theft right out of a movie script.
“It was kind of shocking, actually, because it was sitting right by my feet. I actually felt my purse — he hooked with his foot and drug it a few steps away and dropped a coat over it and took it,” Noem said afterward in an interview with podcaster Vince Coglianese.
At first, Noem said she thought it was just her grandkids kicking her under the table. “But it was very professionally done,” she said. “It tells me that this happens all the time to people, and that they live in communities where this is a danger, and it reaffirms why I’m here.”
Within the purloined fashion bag was a haul worthy of a thriller bestseller. $3,000 in cash, her driver’s license, passport, DHS badge, and keys to her apartment. Also resting within the bag was a $600 Louis Vuitton Clemence wallet, the police report said, according to the Post.
Security camera footage caught the thief in the act. A white male with dark-colored pants and a “fur-type” collar, scanning the crowded restaurant with his eyes. He nervously pushed the bag under his coat and rushed out the door, disappearing into the streets of DC before Noem or anyone else even knew what was happening.
Sources indicate the suspect, whose name has not been released, is connected to a larger East Coast robbery gang that deals in high-end thefts. Authorities estimate at least two individuals were involved in Noem’s robbery, one of whom is said to be a migrant. The second suspect is still at large.
The suspect is set to make his initial court appearance early next week.
Noem’s protection squad, the Secret Service that looks after her under her cabinet rank as she guards Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection, as well as the Coast Guard, was involved during the arrest as well as that of the DC Metro Police. Noem’s bodyguards were indeed present within the restaurant, even though their proximity to the burglary is in dispute.
Investigations remain to be seen whether Noem was targeted due to her authoritative position, or the act was just an opportunistic crime. Noem herself is leaving it to law enforcement to find out.
The arrest represents a significant milestone in what authorities believe is part of a larger trend of brazen, organized crimes on the East Coast, with high-profile targets such as Noem now in their sights.
As the hunt for the second suspect continues, federal authorities are piecing together how deep the operations of this robbery crew might be.
