Using stolen credit cards proves costly

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This article was published 03/05/2023 (1034 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A man will spend another two months in jail after committing a series of thefts and defrauding several Brandon residents out of hundreds of dollars last fall.

Ryan Eckberg, 36, pleaded guilty to numerous fraud and theft charges in court Monday. In addition to the jail sentence, he was also ordered to pay more than $500 in fines and $1,800 in restitution.

On Oct. 12 last year, numerous items were stolen from a parked vehicle outside of a nail salon on Victoria Avenue. Two credit cards, multiple gift cards, medication and a new pair of headphones valued at more than $300 were taken from the truck. Surveillance video from the salon caught Eckberg on camera, but police were unable to identify the suspect.

In circumstances that prosecutors called “bizarre,” the theft victim posted photos on Facebook and received numerous tips from the community about the suspect. The victim himself was able to locate Eckberg on Rosser Avenue. At the time, Eckberg told the victim it was likely him who committed the theft, though prosecutors noted he was under the influence of drugs when this occurred.

Defence lawyer Andrew Synyshyn told the court that during the citizen arrest, the theft victim wrestled Eckberg to the ground.

Later that month, on Oct. 28, a man reported that someone had broken into his truck while it was parked on 26th Street. The man’s wallet, including his driver’s licence and multiple bank cards, a pair of headphones and sunglasses valued at $1,000, were stolen from the vehicle.

Eckberg was identified by surveillance video at a nearby 7-Eleven, where he was caught making purchases amounting to around $75 with a stolen credit card.

Then, in February, a Souris man had been staying at the Canad Inns in Brandon for a conference when his trip to Brandon took a turn for the worse. His vehicle was broken into in the hotel parking lot and his wallet was stolen, including all of his debit and credit cards.

While the man was at the conference, his cards were used for 17 different transactions totalling more than $1,700.

Surveillance footage positively identified Eckberg using the stolen credit cards at various stores around town including Giant Tiger, Home Hardware and Petro Canada.

“It’s particularly concerning that he is using the tap feature on so many people’s credit cards and debit cards and racking up such high amounts,” Sarah Kok, an articling student representing the Crown, told the court Monday.

“It does seem like these are crimes of opportunity.”

Synyshyn said his client’s actions were a result of significant addiction and substance use issues. Eckberg, who didn’t have a criminal record until last May, had a stable life and a job until a few years ago, before his methamphetamine addiction.

“Ultimately, the drug robbed him of all of that,” Synyshyn said.

The lawyer said his client accepts responsibility for his actions and that his crimes were an attempt to get sustenance and to continue to feed his drug use.

Eckberg, who appeared in court by video from Brandon Correctional Centre, declined to comment to the court.

Ultimately, Judge Shauna Hewitt-Michta endorsed the lawyer’s recommendation for Eckberg to stay behind bars for another two more months (he has already spent nearly two months in jail).

However, the judge did remind the man about what he put his victims through, noting that in the instance of making 17 transactions with a stolen credit card, Eckberg had 17 times to reconsider his actions.

“Shame on you for being so opportunistic and just helping yourself to other people’s property and things that don’t belong to you,” Hewitt-Michta said.

The judge gave Eckberg a year to pay restitution to the victims and he was also sentenced to a year of supervised probation.

» gmortfield@brandonsun.com