Brick Man Arrested In Gas Station Credit Card Fraud

Social media tips have led to an arrest in the case of a man who used a stolen credit card to buy gas at the Speedway gas station on Route 88 in Brick, Brick Township police said Thursday.

Robert Van Ellis Jr., 26, of Brick, is facing charges of credit card fraud after tips generated from Facebook postings led Detective Bob Shepherd to Ellis, Sgt. Larry Petrola said.

The stolen card was used at the Speedway on Route 88 in Brick about 6:20 a.m. on Saturday, June 20, Petrola said. Ellis was arrested Wednesday, and Petrola said Ellis gave a statement confirming his role in the credit card fraud.

He was released on his own recognizance pending a future court day, Petrola said.

“As always, thank you for your help,” Petrola wrote in the post on the police department’s Facebook page.