Warrant issued for 'prolific' auto fraud suspect after luxury vehicles recovered in B.C.
Police say Philip Mackay fraudulently bought luxury cars from dealerships across Canada
A warrant has been issued for a vehicle fraud suspect whom police describe as "prolific" after two high-end vehicles were recovered by law enforcement.
Philip Mackay, 61, is suspected of fraudulently purchasing luxury cars from multiple dealerships online while operating out of Alberta, ALERT officials told CBC News.
He has been charged with fraud, possession of stolen property and identity theft after police recovered a 2020 Ford truck valued at $74,000 and a 2019 Land Rover valued at $138,000.
The vehicles were fraudulently obtained from dealerships in New Westminster, B.C., and Moose Jaw, Sask., officials said.
Mackay is believed to have had the vehicles delivered in Calgary before they were then sent to Richmond, B.C. — where ALERT directed B.C.'s Integrated Municipal Police Auto Crimes Team (IMPACT) to recover them.
"This suspect is well-known among auto crimes investigators and we suspect these vehicles were in the process of being transported to foreign black markets," ALERT's Det. Knut Shoebotham said in a release.
In addition to working with IMPACT, ALERT also collaborated with Moose Jaw police, the Lethbridge Police Service and the Calgary Police Service on the investigation.
Edmonton police also issued a Canada-wide warrant for Mackay in April, after he was suspected of falsifying identification to purchase five luxury vehicles.
He is currently in custody in Ontario for separate but similar offences, police said.