Suspect in Noem purse snatching accused of similar crime in NY weeks before

The amerciable migrant accused of snatching Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s purse was arrested successful New York City weeks earlier and released from custody, according to a New York Post report.

Chilean nationalist Mario Bustamante Leiva, 49, was arrested successful Times Square aft helium swiped a fanny battalion from an planetary pupil from India wrong a Times Square dosa store -- and past the perp racked up $1,200 successful recognition paper charges successful conscionable 20 minutes, the unfortunate told the outlet

The NYPD gave Bustamante-Leiva a table quality summons connected fourth-degree felony expansive larceny charges and released him.

The amerciable migrant accused of snatching Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s purse was arrested successful New York City weeks earlier and released from custody, (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

DHS CHIEF KRISTI NOEM REVEALS HOW HER PURSE WAS STOLEN AT RESTAURANT: 'PROFESSIONALLY DONE'

The city’s sanctuary metropolis laws meant that the NYPD was prohibited from telling national migration officials that they had busted an amerciable migrant. 

Meanwhile, Bustamante-Leiva didn’t amusement up for his tribunal day and officers went looking for him, instrumentality enforcement sources told the outlet.

That allowed Bustamante-Leiva to people Noem connected Easter Sunday erstwhile she was eating with her household astatine The Capital Burger successful Washington, D.C., though helium denied knowing that the container belonged to the Homeland Security chief, a hardline migration enforcer.

Bustamante-Leiva is accused of nabbing Noem’s luxury Gucci container containing astir $3,000 currency arsenic good arsenic her driver’s license, passport, medication, constitution bag, blank checks, DHS badge, flat keys and a Louis Vuitton Clemence wallet. The container was connected the level astatine her array erstwhile it was stolen, according to a ailment filed with section police.

Mario Bustamante Leiva allegedly pictured with Noem's bag. (Criminal Complaint)

KIMMEL MOCKS DHS SEC KRISTI NOEM FOR GETTING ROBBED, SAYS HER BEING CRIME VICTIM IS 'EMBARRASSING'

He was arrested connected Saturday by members of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and the Secret Service and initially charged with 2 counts of robbery, officials said. 

On Monday, the U.S. Secret Service filed national transgression charges against Bustamante-Leiva, accusing him of committing 3 robberies betwixt April 12, 2024, and April 20, 2025, and aft each robbery, making fraudulent purchases utilizing the recognition cards obtained from each victim.

Charging documents from the U.S. Attorney’s bureau successful D.C. allegedly showed Bustamante-Leiva caught connected camera blowing $205.87 connected nutrient and intoxicant astatine an Italian edifice conscionable minutes aft helium made disconnected with Noem’s enarthrosis bag.

The U.S. Secret Service filed a transgression ailment against Mario Bustamante Leiva connected Monday. (Criminal Complaint)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP 

Security footage captured a achromatic antheral successful a N95 surgical mask, acheronian pants and a shot cap grabbing the bag before leaving the restaurant.

Bustamante-Leiva is simply a reported vocation transgression whose rap expanse besides includes a 2021 shoplifting apprehension successful Utah and a immense bust successful London successful 2015, wherever helium was arrested for a months-long theft spree and charged with swiping $28,000 successful phones, wallets, and computers, according to the Post.

A 2nd man, believed to beryllium Bustamante-Leiva’s accomplice, was besides arrested successful the Noem theft case. The individuality of the alleged accomplice has not been released, but officials said the fishy is presently being held connected an migration detainer arsenic charges are finalized.

Fox News Digital's Greg Wehner Stepheny Price, Landon Mion and Stephen Sorace contributed to this report.