A freshman at New York University (NYU) has initiated a lawsuit against her roommate after allegedly discovering the theft of approximately $51,000 worth of handbags and jewelry. Aurora Agapov, 19, has taken legal action against her roommate, Kaitlyn Fung, and Fung's mother, accusing them of devising a scheme to steal Agapov's valuable belongings and sell them on an online luxury resale marketplace.

Aurora Agapov, daughter of Russian-American mining magnate and CEO of a gold mining company, Andre Agapov, discovered in May that several of her possessions were missing from their room in Founders' Hall. She found a receipt addressed to Fung from the online consignment shop The RealReal, listing the missing items.

The lawsuit alleges that Agapov had Fung open her account on The RealReal, which reportedly showed several items Fung was in the process of selling, including an 18-karat ring valued at nearly $24,000, a $3,300 Celine tote, and a $4,000 Chanel handbag. Items already sold included a Bvlgari necklace for $2,485 and a Chanel bracelet for $175. The lawsuit claims these items were sold for significantly less than their true market value, with the bracelet valued at $2,000 and the necklace at approximately $13,000.

Other stolen items, such as a Gucci handbag, Christian Louboutin shoes, and a Celine handbag, had been sold but were returned to Fung, according to the lawsuit. Fung, from Old Tappan, New Jersey, was arrested on May 2 after Agapov reported the incident to the police. She has been charged with grand larceny, according to a police spokesperson.

The lawsuit also states that Agapov visited The RealReal's New York City location and was informed by an employee that Fung's mother had allegedly instructed them to send the unsold items to her home. Despite multiple attempts to contact Fung and her mother, neither could be reached for comment, and attorney information for them was not listed in court documents.

The lawsuit asserts that Fung and her mother "have failed and refused" to return the stolen items to Agapov. A representative for The RealReal stated that none of the allegedly stolen items are in their possession anymore and that the company is cooperating with law enforcement. The representative also noted that all consignors must sign an agreement confirming they have the right to sell the items and that they are not stolen. "If we receive any information that items might be stolen, we act fast by removing the items from the site and starting an investigation," the statement said.

An NYU spokesperson commented that while they cannot address the specific incident, stealing from roommates is rare at the university and is considered a "lousy thing to do." If a student is found to have stolen from a roommate, they would likely face immediate removal from the dorm and severe consequences such as suspension.

The incident has raised concerns about the security and trustworthiness of dormitory living arrangements, prompting discussions on how universities can better protect students' personal belongings. As the legal proceedings continue, the university community remains attentive to the case's developments. This case underscores the importance of vigilance and trust within shared living spaces and may lead to heightened security measures and policies to prevent similar incidents in the future.