‘Thought they were her grandchildren playing’ DHS Secretary purse theft leaves more questions

The theft of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s purse at a Washington, D.C. restaurant on Easter Sunday evening has caused serious security concerns and left many questions unanswered. The incident happened around 7:55 PM ET at The Capital Burger in downtown Washington. The suspect was described as a white man wearing dark clothing, a dark baseball cap, and an N95 mask.

Surveillance video showed the man quietly moving his chair close to Secretary Noem’s and using his foot to pull her purse toward him before slipping it under his jacket and leaving the restaurant. Secretary Noem’s purse contained $3,000 in cash, which she later said was meant for her family’s Easter weekend expenses, including meals, activities, and gifts.

Tricia McLaughlin, a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security, said, “She could feel this person as they snatched her bag, but thought they were her grandchildren playing until realizing a minute later that her bag was gone. Her bag was under her feet and the perpetrator hooked the bag with his foot and dragged it across the floor and put a coat over it and took it.”

DHS Secretary thief had smart strategy

The thief basically used his foot to steal the purse. This way, it could be seen as an honest mistake if he was caught; it’s brilliant. However, it creates a huge security risk due to the credentials being stolen.

The purse also had her driver’s license, passport, a DHS personal ID card that allows access to secure government buildings, credit cards, blank checks, and keys to her apartment. Secretary Noem first described the incident as surprising, saying she thought the movement of her purse might have been her grandchildren playing nearby.

The unusual nature of the theft, along with the large amount of cash, has led to speculation about possible motives. Another similar incident at a nearby Westin Hotel just three days earlier has added to concerns. Both thefts involved a white man with similar clothing and a mask, making people wonder if the two cases are connected.

The victim of the Westin theft, who was not involved in politics, said police reached out to her after Secretary Noem’s purse was stolen, noting the similarities between the two cases and asking about her political connections. While law enforcement has not publicly confirmed a link, the strong similarities suggest the cases should be looked at together.

The security detail protecting Secretary Noem during the incident is also being questioned. Reports say at least two plainclothes Secret Service agents were at the restaurant, but it’s unclear how close they were to her table. The fact that the theft still happened despite their presence points to possible gaps in security and raises concerns about how well the Secret Service is doing its job.

The Department of Homeland Security has not publicly commented on the level of security provided to Secretary Noem after the incident. Secretary Noem has said she has not spoken with Secret Service agents about what happened. Neither she nor her representatives have made any further statements beyond confirming the theft and explaining why she had so much cash in her purse. The Metropolitan Police Department has also said they are not leading the investigation, which adds to the confusion about how and when the suspect might be caught.

The investigation is still ongoing, with law enforcement working to identify and arrest the suspect and determine if the two purse thefts are related. Authorities are reviewing surveillance footage and talking to witnesses to gather more information. While the motive for the theft is still unknown, the large amount of cash, the presence of official government IDs, and the similarity to the earlier theft all make the case more complicated. The incident shows that even high-ranking government officials can be vulnerable to personal security breaches, despite having security measures in place. The lack of clear answers about the security details and the possible connection between the two thefts leaves many uncertainties as the investigation continues.