On Tuesday September 26, 2017, a Youth Services Division officer responded to Ventura Park School on the report of a theft.
When the officer arrived, he learned that on September 22, 2017 the victim had purchased two three-day passes to the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. The victim had found the three-day passes for sale on Craigslist. They passes were listed for $150.00 apiece. The victim contacted the seller and purchased two of the three-day passes prior to her departure to California. When the woman arrived at the front gates to the Disneyland Resort on September 23rd, she was informed the tickets were stolen. The woman and her daughter were forced to buy new passes to the resort.
Upon returning to Portland, the victim contacted Portland Police and reported the fraudulent ticket sales. The Youth Services Division officer who took the report contacted detectives at the Detective Coordination Team for further investigation.
During their investigation, detectives searched Craigslist and found more Disneyland Resort three-day passes for sale. Detectives contacted the Craigslist seller and planned a meeting to purchase Disneyland Resort passes.
On Wednesday September 27, 2017 the suspect arrived at Southeast Stark Street and Southeast 102nd Avenue to sell more stolen three-day passes. Unbeknownst to the suspect, the person buying the tickets was an undercover Portland Police officer. The suspect was taken into custody shortly after selling the stolen tickets to the officer.
The suspect was identified as 39-year-old Michael G. McCrobie. McCrobie was interviewed by detectives and lodged at the Multnomah County Jail on charges of Theft in the First Degree by Deception, Felony Computer Crime (two counts) and Attempt Theft in the First Degree by Deception.
Detectives believe there are other people who unsuspectingly purchased stolen tickets from McCrobie in the Portland Metropolitan area. (A screenshot of McCrobie's Craigslist advertisement has been included with this press release.) Anyone who believes they were sold stolen tickets by McCrobie should contact East Precinct Detectives at 503-823-4800 or Jason.Harris@portlandoregon.gov .