Local auto shop owner arrested for car theft and embezzlement

The Laguna Beach Police Department arrested Laguna Beach Collision Center owner James Michael Ross last week on charges related to auto theft and embezzlement stemming from six separate LBPD cases, authorities said.

According to a police news release, LBPD received a report on June 19 that Ross had stolen a vehicle from one of his customers. After an investigation, detectives located the vehicle the next day and arrested Ross on suspicion of stealing a vehicle.

Ross was booked into the Orange County Jail and is being held without bail.

LBPD detectives said they conducted an extensive investigation and learned that Ross had stolen numerous vehicles that had been brought to him for repairs, driven the vehicles for his own use and then stopped contacting the owners of the vehicles.

The police department's statement said the owners were unable to contact Ross or regain possession of their vehicles, prompting them to report the crimes to the LBPD.

Ross had also been arrested for car theft about a month earlier and released after posting $20,000 bail.

The Laguna Beach Collision Center was previously located at 2147 Laguna Canyon Road.

Detectives are asking anyone with information regarding this case or other victims to contact the Laguna Beach Police Department Detective Bureau at 949-715-0984. Those who prefer to provide information anonymously can call Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS (1-855-487-6227, download the P3 Tips mobile app on Google Play or the Apple App Store, or use the website occrimestoppers.org.