Suspect arrested for stealing US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's purse

The US Secret Service says a suspect has been arrested in connection with the theft of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's purse at a Washington restaurant.

The Secret Service did not identify the suspect by name but said the individual was a serial offender who was not a threat to Ms Noem, the former South Dakota governor who was appointed to her post by US President Donald Trump.

"The investigation revealed alleged criminal activity, including potential device and credit card fraud," agent Matt McCool said in a statement.

"Given this, the Secret Service will maintain jurisdiction over the case and intends to present its findings to a federal court in coordination with the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia."

Ms Noem's purse was stolen on Easter Sunday and reportedly contained about $US3,000 ($4,700) in cash, her keys, driver’s licence, passport and Homeland Security badge. 

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said Ms Noem had cash in her purse to pay for gifts, dinner and other activities for her family on Easter.

Department spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said the suspect was believed to have hooked Ms Noem's purse with his foot underneath her chair before dragging it across the floor, covering it with a coat and taking it, the New York Times reported.

The Washington Metropolitan Police Department said a 49-year-old man named Mario Bustamante Leiva was arrested on Saturday and charged with two counts of robbery involving two separate incidents on April 12 and April 17.

The Washington police said the man faced "additional charges for an offense being investigated by the United States Secret Service," an apparent reference to the theft involving Ms Noem.

"This individual is a career criminal who has been in our country illegally for years," Ms Noem said in a statement that also credited the Washington police and the Secret Service for their work on the arrest.

A DHS representative did not immediately respond to questions about the man's identity or his immigration status.

Ms Noem is the top official charged with protecting the US from terrorism and other types of threats, and has been a proponent of Donald Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration.

The statements issued by federal and local authorities did not provide details about how the theft occurred despite a security detail provided to Ms Noem.

Security concerns raised

At least one law enforcement expert  raised concerns about whether the incident constituted a lapse of Ms Noem's official security status.

“This is a security breach that actually has high consequences, and it needs immediate and further review by the Secret Service and DHS, and other law enforcement partners,” Jonathan Wackrow, a former Secret Service agent, told CNN.

“If necessary, the Secret Service will need to make operational changes on how they deal with these types of private events moving forward."

Mr Wackrow told CNN Ms Noem's role as homeland security secretary placed her "at higher risk for targeted threats, both by foreign and domestic actors," and said "her public profile alone makes her a symbolic target”.

Despite that, Columbia District Attorney Ed Martin told NBC it was not believed Ms Noem was targeted because of her position.

"There is no indication it was because of that. It was frankly, it was a nice-looking purse," Mr Martin said.

“This was not an amateur. This was a person, a thief, that knew how to do this. You could see how he scouted the room out.

"President Trump's direction to us is we charge these folks that are here illegally and we prosecute them, as well as deport them when need be … as soon as that can happen

"What I can tell you is he won't be back on the streets in America."

AP/Reuters