Police arrest two in connection with theft of Secretary Kristi Noem's bag

Authorities arrested 2 men successful transportation with the theft of a decorator handbag belonging to US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

Noem's container was stolen connected Easter Sunday portion she was eating successful a fashionable Washington DC restaurant.

On Saturday, constabulary arrested 49-year-old Mario Bustamante Leiva.

And connected Sunday the US Secret Service said it apprehended an alleged co-conspirator successful Miami. CBS News, the BBC's US quality partner, named the fishy arsenic 51-year-old Cristian Rodrigo Montecino-Sanzanaat.

Bustamante Leiva was charged with robbery, aggravated individuality theft and ligament fraud.

A transgression ailment filed Monday alleged that helium was progressive successful 2 different robberies, and spent the proceeds connected acquisition cards, edifice rooms and different purchases.

Noem, the erstwhile politician of South Dakota, was eating astatine the fashionable Capital Burger edifice with her Gucci handbag sitting by her feet underneath her seat.

After helium allegedly was spotted connected information video taking the bag, Bustamante Leiva got connected a autobus and was seen aboriginal that evening astatine an Italian restaurant. He is accused of spending $205.87 (£153.21) connected nutrient and drinks, paying with 1 of Noem's recognition cards.

Montecino-Sanzanaat was arrested successful a Miami cause store, authorities said, and Secret Service officials said helium was connected to "a signifier of robberies and thefts" successful Washington.

Lawyers for the suspects could not beryllium instantly identified. In 2015, Bustamante Leiva, a Chilean citizen, was jailed for 3 years by a tribunal successful London aft a drawstring of thefts from sandwich shops, bars and pubs.

In a station connected X, Noem said the fishy "is a vocation transgression who has been successful our state illegally for years."

Noem had $3,000 (£2,330) successful cash, on with recognition cards, her Homeland Security badge, medicine and her driving licence successful her bag.

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said Noem had withdrawn the currency to dainty her children and grandchildren to dinner, activities and vacation gifts.

Like different furniture officials, Noem receives a Secret Service extortion detail. Agents were successful the edifice astatine the clip but did not instantly observe the theft.