Purse Snatcher Strikes Twice Near Capitol: Kristi Noem Among Victims in D.C. Crime Spree

Washington, D.C. has seen a pair of high-profile purse thefts just blocks apart, and one of the victims is none other than Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Reports reveal that a woman dining with her family at the Westin Hotel noticed her purse missing as the dinner check arrived last Thursday. According to police, the thief made off with the bag by grabbing it from her chair while she was distracted.

Fast forward three days, and lightning apparently struck twice: Secretary Noem herself had her purse stolen at The Capital Burger, less than a quarter mile away. Her bag, which contained $3,000 in cash, personal documents, her passport, keys, driver’s license, and even a DHS badge, vanished while she was out with her entire family. The cash, according to a Homeland Security spokesperson, was meant for treating her relatives to meals, activities, and Easter gifts—a gesture that unfortunately ended up supporting D.C.’s criminal underbelly instead.

Both thefts appear to be the work of the same suspect: a White male dressed in dark clothing, a dark baseball cap, and an N95 mask. Surveillance footage from both locations supports this description, and police are working to determine if the two crimes are connected. The earlier victim expressed shock at the similarities between her experience and Noem’s, and police even asked her if she had political ties—which she doesn’t.

For now, the Metropolitan Police Department isn’t commenting on the Noem case, as the investigation is being led elsewhere. The city’s purse-snatching saga continues, leaving locals and visitors alike clutching their bags just a little tighter.