A Morgantown woman was arrested and charged on Thursday for allegedly breaking into Novichecnks Tailgater’s Pub II, on Cheat Road, in January.
Brianna Claire Wood, 29, is charged with grand larceny and breaking and entering a building other than dwelling by the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department.
Deputy D. Stemple went to the bar on January 25 for a reported breaking and entering, according to a criminal complaint.
When Stemple arrived, he spoke with the owner, Mark Johnson, who told him someone had broken into the building and stole money from the safe, the complaint said.
Johnson handed over video footage which showed the suspect committing the theft and said the bartenders who were working the night before knew the suspect, the complaint said.
Stemple spoke with the bartenders who identified Wood.
The video shows employees shutting the bar down about 3 a.m. and leaving through the front door, according to the complaint. Wood leaves with them and then stands in front of the building for a few minutes before attempting to go back in the bar, but the door was locked.
Wood tried the door handle “several times” before pulling something out of her pants pocket and messing with the door latch until she was able to get inside, the complaint said.
Interior video footage showed Wood walk into the office and open the door to the safe and remove a bank bag from it, the complaint said. She is then seen taking the money, about $2,000, from the bank bag and putting it in her bra.
Employees pointed out a wallet left on the bar and said they thought it was Wood’s, the complaint said. The wallet contained several cards with Wood’s name on them and a scanned copy of her driver’s license and social security card.
Wood was arraigned by Magistrate Sandy Holepit and is being held in North Central Regional Jail in lieu of $20,000 bond.
