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An arrest has been made in connection with the investigation into the theft of a high-end Gucci bag owned by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, according to a law enforcement official familiar with the case.
Currently, one individual is in custody, and more arrests are anticipated in relation to a theft ring operating in Washington, DC’s Penn Quarter neighborhood, the source indicated.
While the authorities have yet to disclose the identity of the suspect, the arrest follows a USA Secret Service investigation aimed at locating the individual responsible for stealing Noem’s bag during her Easter Sunday dinner with family.
Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi stated, “For the safety of our agents and officers, we are not in a position to confirm or comment at this time. Should criminal charges be filed, the Department of Homeland Security will provide public information in accordance with established procedures.”
Surveillance footage from The Capital Burger restaurant revealed that the suspect positioned himself close to Noem as he targeted her Gucci bag, which was placed near her feet, according to a second law enforcement source.
Dressed in dark attire, the suspect reportedly sat at an adjacent table, turned his back towards Noem, and utilized his left foot to discreetly slide the bag away from her. Once he deemed the coast was clear, he covered the bag with his jacket and exited the establishment.
Noem discovered her bag was missing only after she had stood up from the table, as noted by the source.
Inside the bag were several valuable items, including a Louis Vuitton Clemence wallet, Noem’s driver’s license, prescription medication, apartment keys, a passport, a badge for DHS access, cosmetics, blank checks, and approximately $3,000 in cash, according to multiple reports.
CNN attempted to contact The Capital Burger’s parent company, Darden Restaurants, but did not receive an immediate response.
It remains uncertain whether the suspect specifically targeted Noem or if she was an incidental victim.
According to a source familiar with the incident, the Secret Service agents were present at the restaurant with Noem, who was dining alongside her family. The source did not clarify how many agents were present or their specific locations within the venue.
In light of the substantial cash Noem was carrying at the time, a spokesperson for DHS commented that “her entire family was in town including her children and grandchildren – she was using the withdrawal to treat her family to dinner, activities, and Easter gifts.”
Law enforcement experts have expressed concerns about the incident, questioning how a thief was able to get so close to a Cabinet official and successfully steal her belongings, suggesting potential lapses in security protocols.
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