NYU Freshman Roommate Lawsuit: A Tale of Stolen Luxury and Dorm Room Drama
New York University (NYU), a place where liberal arts dreams meet the vibrant backdrop of The Big Apple, has become the setting for a legal battle involving two freshman roommates. Aurora Agapov, a 19-year-old NYU student, has sued her roommate, Kaitlyn Fung, for allegedly stealing nearly $50,000 worth of her "jewelry and high-end designer clothing," including items from luxury brands Chanel, Celine, Gucci, and Christian Louboutin. The case has sparked conversations about wealth, privilege, and the allure of luxury goods, all within the confines of a college dorm room.
The Alleged Theft and Discovery
According to the New York Supreme Court complaint, Aurora Agapov claims that Kaitlyn Fung "concocted a scheme" in early 2024 to steal her pricey possessions and sell them on the online marketplace, The RealReal. Fung allegedly began stealing and selling Agapov's items during the 2023-24 school year when the two were rooming together in an NYU dorm.
Agapov noticed several of her items were missing around May 1. Her "heart dropped" when she discovered a receipt in a handbag written to Fung from The RealReal, listing many of her items. Agapov, an art major originally from London, told the New York Post about her discovery of the alleged thefts, which included items given to her by her mother. "My mother gifted me those things," Agapov said, per the New York Post. "They mean a lot to me.” "We spoke pretty much every day," she added to the Post about her roommate. "I'd say we didn't really have any falling outs or anything." That is until she discovered the damning evidence in the spring of 2024.
The suit alleges that Agapov's roommate Kaitlyn Fung "concocted a scheme whereby she would steal Plaintiff's jewelry and high-end designer clothing and handbags and sell same through The RealReal."
The RealReal Connection
Fung is accused of opening The RealReal account in early 2024 and placing Agapov's items for consignment on the online marketplace until the end of April, according to the complaint.
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According to the lawsuit, Agapov confronted Fung, who'd been her roommate for the 2023-2024 school year, and Fung allegedly admitted she'd stolen several valuable items, some of which had already been sold through The RealReal, which calls itself "the largest marketplace for authenticated luxury consignment." At Agapov's request, Fung allegedly signed onto her RealReal account and showed her the items listed for sale.
The RealReal has stated that all consignors are required to sign an agreement confirming they have the right to sell the items and that the items aren't stolen. A company spokesperson said, "If we receive any information that items might be stolen, we act fast by removing them from the site and starting an investigation. We also advise the alleged victim to file a police report and we work with law enforcement and other legal authorities." The RealReal is working with the police to recover items that Aurora caught Kaitlyn red-handed trying to sell in a later haul on the site. The Real Real closely collaborates with law enforcement on all stolen or fraudulently obtained item inquiries, according to the company. Plus, the marketplace uploads high-value items to Leads Online, a database law enforcement agencies have access to and helps them track stolen items, the spokesperson added.
Items Stolen and Their Value
According to the suit, at Agapov's request, Fung went to her The RealReal account and showed the items that were currently listed for sale, including:
- Solange Azagury 18K Ruby Ring (valued at $23,765)
- Celine Nanno Tote (valued at $3,300)
- Chanel Purse (valued at $4,000)
The RealReal app also listed items already sold from Fung's account, including a Chanel Strauss Bracelet for $175 and a Bvlgari Necklace for $2,485, according to the complaint. Agapov's suit says that both items were sold for "substantially less than their true market value," with the bracelet being worth $2,000 and the necklace being valued at $13,000. To my knowledge, this is actually a criticism of The Real Real’s murky product-evaluation practices and not Fung’s ability to price designer jewelry, but that’s for another lawsuit.
Some items were returned to Fung through The RealReal app, including a Gucci handbag, a Celine handbag, and Christian Louboutin shoes, the court filing shows. A few of the items - a Gucci bag, another Celine bag, and Christian Louboutin shoes - were, per the suit, “returned” to Fung.
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According to the suit, the value of the unsold stolen items is approximately $31,000, while the damages being sought for the sold stolen items is at least $20,000.
Legal and Personal Repercussions
The next day, on May 2, Agapov reported Fung, who was subsequently arrested by New York City Police, according to the complaint. Agapov’s suit says she reported Fung to the police on May 2, and the freshman was arrested the same day on a third-degree grand-larceny charge before being released. Her criminal case is pending, but Agapov appears to be pursuing justice by other means.
Agapov reported the alleged theft to the New York Police Department on May 2, and Fung was arrested the same day, the suit stated.
As of May 31, Agapov has not received any of her unsold items, the complaint says. At the end of May, Agapov filed a complaint in New York Supreme Court seeking $51,000 in damages and demanding the Fungs return her things.
When Agapov went to The RealReal store in downtown Manhattan to discuss the theft, an employee told her that Fung's mother, referred to in the suit as Jane Doe, instructed the store to send the unsold items to her home in New Jersey, court documents allege.
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New York court records show Fung does not have an attorney yet. Fung's legal team and Agapov's legal team did not immediately respond to CBS News' request for comment.
The People Involved
Aurora Agapov is a 19-year-old NYU student and arts major originally from London. Her father, Andre, is described as the "super chill CEO of a Russian mining empire who is rumored to be friends with Vladimir Putin." Some of these items include a $13,000 Bvlgari necklace, a $2,000 Chanel bracelet, a pair of Louboutins, and a Gucci and Celine handbag.
Kaitlyn Fung is a double major in criminology and politics from Old Tappan, New Jersey. This could mean Kaitlin is either a rich girl herself with Winona’s sticky fingers or just someone who couldn’t keep up with the Joneses.
Perspectives and Reactions
The case has elicited a range of reactions, with some viewing Kaitlyn Fung as a Gen Z Robin Hood. Some people might call Kaitlyn a Gen Z Robin Hood (and those people would TOTALLY be joking… mostly). I mean, I know stealing is wrong, but can we all agree stealing from a generationally wealthy mining heiress is, like, possibly a hair less awful?? Kaitlyn is a double major in criminology and politics, and frankly, isn’t it nice to see a college student putting their degree to good use in 2024? She’s from Old Tappan, New Jersey - AKA she’s a bitch from Bergen County, one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in the US.
NYU: A Microcosm of Wealth and Drama
NYU is essentially home to spoiled children (are we still allowed to say the S word?) of wealthy parents worldwide who want to live out their liberal artsy dreams in The Big Apple. No, not every kid who ends up at New York University is a 6’5″ blue-eyed man in finance with a trust fund or the nepo baby of a beloved Bravoleb. At any given moment, so much drama is happening at NYU. One Tisch student is choosing not to cast her best friend in her short film, a Gallatin sophomore just dumped her boyfriend for not having a cool major, and someone is making up a rumor about Timothée Chalamet’s sex life.
tags: #nyu #freshman #roommate #lawsuit #details
