BERLIN 

After over 16 years as one of Europe’s highest-profile leaders, Angela Merkel is learning that life out of public office brings its own set of challenges.

While out shopping, Germany’s iconic ex-chancellor had her purse stolen, local media reported on Friday.

Merkel was being escorted by her bodyguards while running shopping errands on Thursday, but she still fell victim to one of Berlin’s most common crimes, Bild daily reported.

The 67-year-old visited a police station after the theft and filed a complaint, according to the report.

There was no word on whether the unidentified thief tried to use the longtime leader’s ID card to impersonate Merkel, one of the world’s most famous faces both in Europe and worldwide.

Merkel, who served as German chancellor from Nov. 22, 2005 to Dec. 8, 2021, retired from active politics late last year.