West Virginia University Police are investigating a video posted to social media that appears to show a university employee stealing from a dorm room.
“West Virginia University Police, along with Housing and Residence Life staff, are investigating the circumstances depicted in a video being circulated that shows a university employee in a student room who did not follow proper protocol,” WVU Spokesperson John Bolt said. “This is an unusual occurrence that university officials are taking very seriously as the safety and security of students and their property are of the highest priority to us.”
The video was posted to Instagram by WVU Barstool on Sunday night. The account accepts submissions from users and posts the content, allowing the submitter to remain anonymous. The post had more than 4,600 likes and over 120 comments as of Monday afternoon.
The video appeared to be filmed using a Wyze camera at 10:39 a.m. March 31. Wyze offers “smart home cameras and devices” that include motion detection, according to the company’s website.
In the video, a man wearing what appears to be a WVU employee shirt and a hat is seen opening the closet farthest from the room’s entrance and picking up a pair of shoes. He then looks in the other side of that same closet, checks the label inside the shoes, closes the closet and walks toward the exit of the room. He then shuts the light off and leaves the room.
On March 18, WVU announced that all residence halls except for those for students with no other housing alternatives would be closed because of COVID-19.
The announcement said all facilities would be securely locked and gave an email address for students concerned about items left behind. A future move-out date will be set and students were urged to wait until then before returning to campus to get their belongings.
Bolt said the university understands the situation has caused concern. Because of the ongoing pandemic WVU residence halls are still under a strict no-access policy.
Protocols and proper procedures have been reviewed with “all staff who are working in the residence halls at this time,” Bolt said.
UPD has also increased patrols of vacated areas.
Bolt did not answer a question about what essential services dorm staff are providing during the stay-at-home order.
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