A second individual has been arrested related to the theft of Kristi Noem’s purse, the Secretary of Homeland Security, while she was enjoying a family lunch on Easter.
Law enforcement officials revealed that they captured an accomplice connected to a string of thefts in Washington, D.C., on Sunday in Miami.
“This person is considered a co-conspirator along with the main suspect accused of robbing Secretary Kristi Noem,” a spokesperson for the Secret Service stated.
“Safety for the public is best achieved through trust and cooperation,” said Special Agent in Charge Rafael Barros. “We appreciate the quick and effective help from the Miami Beach Police in making this arrest. Upon receiving tips from Washington, officers swiftly initiated targeted patrols and found the suspect, who was apprehended without any issues.”
MAN ARRESTED FOR ALLEGED THEFT OF KRISTI NOEM’S PURSE WITH $3K IN CASH: REPORTS
While the name of the alleged accomplice has not been disclosed, officials mentioned that the suspect is currently held on an immigration detainer as charges are being finalized.
Just hours earlier, authorities reported the first arrest of an undocumented immigrant with a significant criminal background believed to be involved in the theft.
“We appreciate the Secret Service, ICE, and our law enforcement partners for catching the criminal who stole my bag while I was dining with my family in a restaurant in Washington, D.C.,” said Noem’s spokesperson in a statement to Fox News Digital.
Noem commented, “This individual has been a continuous offender living in our country illegally for years.”
The Secret Service clarified that the theft was not deliberate nor linked to “Secretary Noem or her position as Secretary of Homeland Security.”
Paul Mauro, a retired NYPD inspector and Fox News contributor, echoed the Secret Service’s sentiments, asserting that the theft was not specifically aimed at Noem, but was more about the value of the luxury bag itself.
“This was not a targeted act. This represents the lower levels of criminal activity. They just wanted to make a quick profit,” Mauro explained. “Why would you invite scrutiny toward someone so high-up in the DHS? It’s not the KGB we’re dealing with.”
The suspect has been identified as 49-year-old Mario Bustamante Leiva, an illegally present Chilean national linked to multiple thefts in April, according to the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department.
Authorities revealed that in a series of scams, Leiva approached victims at restaurant tables, snatched their purses from the backs of their seats, and then fled.
Video evidence led detectives to identify Leiva as the alleged perpetrator. He was arrested Saturday and charged with two counts of robbery, along with other charges under investigation by the United States Secret Service.
DHS SECRETARY KRISTI NOEM SHARES HOW HER PURSE WAS STOLEN: ‘PROFESSIONALLY DONE’
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem during a meeting with President Donald Trump and Nayib Bukele, President of El Salvador, in the Oval Office on April 14. (Ken Cedeno/UPI/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“Sadly, numerous families in this nation fall victim to crime, which is why President Trump is tirelessly working to ensure America’s safety and remove these criminal aliens from our streets,” Noem remarked.
KIMMEL RIDICULES DHS SECRETARY KRISTI NOEM AFTER THEFT, CALLS IT ‘EMBARRASSING’
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem observing a vehicle scan at the San Ysidro Port of Entry in San Diego on March 16, 2025. (Alex Brandon/Pool via REUTERS)
Noem was dining with her family at The Capital Burger in Washington, D.C. on Easter Sunday when her designer bag—containing cash and her personal items like a driver’s license, passport, medication, a makeup bag, blank checks, a DHS badge, apartment keys, and a Louis Vuitton Clemence wallet—was taken.
According to a police report, the bag was resting on the floor next to her table when it was stolen.
Security cameras captured a white male wearing an N95 mask, dark trousers, and a baseball cap taking the bag before leaving the establishment.
Noem recounted, “It was quite shocking, actually, because it was right next to my feet. I felt my purse as he dragged it a few steps away, covering it with a coat before taking it.” She also mentioned, “I thought it was my grandkids kicking my legs. It was very professionally executed, highlighting that this occurs frequently in communities and emphasizes why I am here.”
Fox News Digital’s Landon Mion and Stephen Sorace contributed to this report.
Stepheny Price writes for Fox News Digital and Fox Business, covering various topics including missing persons, homicide cases, national crime, illegal immigration, and more. Story tips can be sent to stepheny.price@fox.com
