Berks man charged with breaking into pistol club, using firing range and stealing $

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Mar. 8*A Temple man prohibited from having firearms broke into Pricetown Rifle and Pistol Club in Ruscombmanor Township, stole money and shot at targets using several different guns, state police said Monday.

Nathan J. Eckert, 36, was identified with the help of security camera footage that recorded the license plate of his stepmother's vehicle that he was driving when the burglary occurred Friday, investigators said.

He was taken into custody Saturday night when he returned to a relative's home in the 4800 block of Fifth Avenue where he had been residing recently.
According to the probable cause affidavit: Trooper Zackary Goetter learned Eckert was living with the relative and went there and spoke to the relative. While the trooper was there, Eckert walked in and was taken into custody. Eckert admitted he had firearms and signed a waiver allowing police to confiscate them.

A search of his bags revealed an AR-15-style rifle, a 9 mm pistol and several hundred rounds of ammunition.

Eckert was taken to the Reading station for an interview. He admitted entering the building about 5 p.m., even though he was not a member. The entrance is secured by a keypad lock, but Eckert said he entered the pass code. It was unclear how he got the code.

He admitted stealing $26 from the jar that was used to collect money from beverage purchases.

The burglary was discovered Saturday afternoon when a club officer was reviewing security camera footage after noticing money missing. Eckert also tampered with the box used to collect fees from members for their guests to use the range.

Eckert is prohibited from having firearms due to an extensive criminal history that include felony convictions for robbery and drug trafficking. As a result of Friday's events, state police charged him with three new felonies: possessing a firearm while prohibited, carrying firearms without a license and burglary.
Following arraignment Sunday before District Judge Michael G. Hartman in Reading Central Court, Eckert was committed to Berks County Prison in lieu of $50,000 bail.