In a state familiar with bears breaking into cars, California insurance investigators uncovered an unusual twist: The “bear” caught on camera damaging luxury vehicles was actually someone in a costume, leading to four arrests in an elaborate insurance fraud scheme.
The California Insurance Department announced Wednesday the arrests of four Los Angeles residents accused of defrauding three insurance companies out of nearly $142,000 in what authorities dubbed “Operation Bear Claw.”
The suspects allegedly submitted damage claims for a Rolls-Royce and two Mercedes vehicles, accompanied by video footage purportedly showing a bear ransacking the luxury cars in the San Bernardino Mountains this January. Insurance company investigators reviewing footage of the Rolls-Royce incident first spotted the deception, noting the “bear’s” movements appeared suspiciously human.
The scheme began to unravel when detectives discovered two additional claims filed with different insurance companies by the same group, featuring similar videos of the costumed intruder and citing identical dates and locations for the alleged damage. Photos provided by the insurance department showed apparent scratch marks on vehicle seats and doors.
To verify their suspicions, investigators consulted a biologist from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, who confirmed the footage “clearly a human in a bear suit.” A subsequent search warrant executed at the suspects’ home revealed the incriminating costume, authorities said.
The case presents an ironic contrast to California’s genuine bear problems, where real bears regularly raid homes and vehicles from Lake Tahoe to Los Angeles suburbs, sometimes helping themselves to refrigerator contents or taking unauthorized dips in swimming pools and hot tubs.
The names of the four arrested individuals were not immediately released, and it was unclear if they had retained attorneys.
The insurance department did not specify the potential penalties for the alleged fraud, but insurance fraud schemes in California can result in significant fines and imprisonment.
AP
