The Secret Service introduced two Chilean nationals — considered one of whom is an alleged “serial offender” — have been arrested over the weekend for allegedly swiping Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem’s designer purse full of $3,000 value of money whereas she was eating at Capital Burger in Northwest D.C. The purse-snatching heist heard around the globe occurred whereas Noem was doing Easter Sunday dinner there. Two suspects have been recognized by authorities as reportedly “unlawful migrants.”
One week after the theft, D.C. Metro Police and the Secret Service took Mario Bustamante-Leiva into custody in connection to the theft and says he’s been charged with theft in D.C. earlier than. Shortly after, Cristian Rodrigo Montecino-Sanzana was detained in Miami on Sunday as his alleged confederate. Expenses haven’t but been formally filed.
Noem — whose showy deporting demonstrations on TV whereas flashing a luxe Rolex have shortly earned her the nickname “ICE Barbie” — allegedly had $3,000 in money contained in the stolen black Gucci bag that retails for over $4,000.
The scene of the crime (1005 seventh Avenue NW), located throughout from the Walter E. Washington Conference Middle since 2018, is finest recognized for its French onion-styled namesake burger ($23). Noem may have purchased 130 of them with that type of money she was carrying. (In a assertion to WUSA9, DHS says she introduced the large stack of payments to allegedly purchase each dinner and Easter presents for her household.) The swiped purse additionally contained her passport, residence keys, and DHS entry badge. Per a press release from investigators, Noem was not focused based mostly on her high-profile place at DHS, which incorporates being the boss of Customs and Border Safety (CBP).
Regardless of Noem’s Secret Service element being current, the suspect in an N95 masks was capable of plop down subsequent to her household’s desk, slide over the expensive purse together with his foot, and stroll out the door with it beneath his jacket — all in a matter of minutes, per NBC. The suspects are believed to be half of a bigger East Coast theft ring, per legislation enforcement officers.
Capital Burger, the informal counterpart to steakhouse sibling the Capital Grille, has not launched surveillance video of the incident to the general public or made a remark. Its Orlando-based Darden restaurant group additionally contains mega-chains like LongHorn, Olive Backyard, Seasons 52, and Ruth’s Chris.
