Jury Convicts Norfolk Man of Auto and Credit Card Theft in 2022 Property Crime Spree

NORFOLK, Va. – A Norfolk jury convicted 25-year-old Damian Berggren on Tuesday of grand theft auto and three counts of credit card theft after he stole a Norfolk woman's belongings.

In the early morning of Nov. 15, 2022, the victim — a Navy sailor and Willoughby Bay resident — was preparing to report for duty when she realized her Volkswagen Passat was missing. The victim was unable to identify who may have stolen her car. A few hours later, Mr. Berggren was identified by Norfolk Police as a suspect for unrelated property crimes less than one mile from Willoughby Bay.

Officers confronted Mr. Berggren near West Gilpin Avenue, and Mr. Berggren attempted to flee. The officers apprehended Mr. Berggren and, after searching him, found in his pockets three credit cards, two photo identification cards, and a car key belonging to the victim. The Passat was later recovered several blocks from where Mr. Berggren was arrested, but it had been damaged beyond repair.

Another Navy sailor and Willoughby Bay resident who spoke with police happened to have captured video of Mr. Berggren trying to gain entry to different vehicles, with the time and location of his video being just ten minutes before and less than 300 meters from where the victim realized her car was missing.

After three hours of deliberation, a Norfolk jury convicted Mr. Berggren as charged of grand larceny of an automobile and three counts of credit card theft. Mr. Berggren is docketed for sentencing on Aug. 18.

Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney J. Drew Fairbanks prosecuted Mr. Berggren's case on behalf of the Commonwealth.

###