Crime Reduction Unit nabs prolific fraudster

West Shore, Emergency Response Team

2023-03-08 12:09 PST

File # 2023-2674

On February 9 the West Shore RCMP received a call about a theft from a pair of vehicles on Cooper Rd in View Royal. Bank cards stolen from the vehicles were then used to make purchases at several business in the West Shore and Esquimalt.

Police learned the suspect left in a taxi from one of the locations and were able to identify the suspect as 44-year-old Ross Macmillan of Esquimalt.

Police determined that Macmillan had recently been convicted of theft, fraudulent use of credit card and possession of stolen property from a 2021 investigation out of Saanich. In addition, Macmillan also has a lengthy criminal record including convictions for failure to comply with court ordered conditions, possession of stolen property, uttering threats, theft, fraud and weapons-related offences.

The West Shore RCMP Crime Reduction Unit with assistance from the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team, executed a search warrant on residence in Esquimalt which led to the recovery of stolen items including stolen identification ultimately connecting Macmillan to the theft in View Royal.

Macmillan was arrested and has been charged with Failure to comply with probation order, theft under $5000, theft of a credit card, and fraud in relation to this investigation.

Two police crime reduction unit officers standing in front of a police car