$3,000 cash, access badge: How Homeland Security chief Kristi Noem’s purse was stolen

A purse belonging to US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem was stolen in downtown Washington on Sunday night.

According to the department, Noem had cash in the bag for Easter celebrations, including gifts for her children and grandchildren and dinner expenses.

She acknowledged the theft during a brief exchange at the White House Easter Egg Roll, saying the issue remained unresolved.

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The Secret Service has since launched a probe to trace any transactions involving Noem’s financial details.

In this explainer, we look at how the theft took place, who might have been involved, and the investigation in the case.

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How was Kristi Noem’s purse stolen? What was inside?

Noem’s purse was stolen while she was dining with her extended family at the Capital Burger on Seventh Street NW in Washington, according to The Washington Post.

The US Secret Service, which falls under DHS and provides round-the-clock protection to Noem, is currently handling the investigation.

“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,” a DHS spokesperson told CNN.

Some law enforcement professionals have raised questions about how a thief was able to get close enough to a Cabinet official to steal her belongings, suggesting the incident may point to a lapse in security.

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While her phone was not in the bag, CBS News reported that her credit cards, makeup, and medication were taken.

The Secret Service is reviewing security footage from the restaurant and working with the list of stolen items in an attempt to identify the suspect.

As with previous holders of her position, the Homeland Security Secretary is entitled to 24-hour Secret Service protection. Several members of her protective team were present at the restaurant during the theft, sources told CBS News.

Among the items stolen were Noem’s driver’s licence, prescription medication, keys, passport, DHS badge, makeup kit, chequebook, and roughly $3,000 in cash.

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Who stole Kristi Noem’s purse?

Noem, who holds a top post in US President Donald Trump’s administration, is among the senior officials under constant Secret Service protection.

Although she is always accompanied by agents, her security detail is smaller compared to that of the president, vice president, or first lady.

Footage from Capital Burger, where the theft happened, shows an unidentified White man in a medical mask taking her purse, sources told CNN.

According to NBC News, the man sat close to Noem’s table and was seen gradually moving his chair nearer.

He then used his foot to slide the bag toward himself before lifting it, concealing it under his jacket, and walking out of the restaurant moments later.

It is still not known whether Noem was a specific target. Investigators are trying to determine if the man was aware that the purse belonged to a Cabinet-level official.

Who is Kristi Noem?

Noem drew international attention after her own remarks seemingly ended her chances of being chosen as Donald Trump’s vice-presidential running mate.

In a candid moment, she said she had shot her dog, Cricket, describing it as “untrainable.”

Before becoming Secretary of Homeland Security, Noem served as the governor of South Dakota from 2019 until 2025. She stepped into her current role after Donald Trump’s election victory last November.

At her confirmation hearing, Noem said securing the southern border would be among her top priorities. She spoke about the country’s “responsibility to secure our borders against those who would do us harm,” and added that the system must operate in a lawful and fair way.

Noem has become one of the Trump administration’s leading figures on immigration enforcement.

This role has also seen her challenge institutions such as Harvard over grant funding, citing alleged tolerance of antisemitism in the wake of pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses during Israel’s offensive in Gaza.

As Secretary of Homeland Security, she heads a department responsible for national safety, covering everything from immigration and border control to cybersecurity and anti-terrorism efforts.

With inputs from agencies