(KTLA) — Three insurance claims involving a bear damaging luxury cars in California are now believed to be fraud after it was determined that the culprit was actually a man in a costume.
Four Los Angeles residents were arrested as part of the scheme, which allegedly happened on at least three occasions.
A suspected man in a bear costume is seen entering a vehicle and causing damage in January 2024 in a video released by the California Department of Insurance.
Video from the California Department of Insurance shows the alleged damage caused by a man in a bear costume in a suspected insurance fraud case in January 2024.
Video from the California Department of Insurance shows the alleged damage caused by a man in a bear costume in a suspected insurance fraud case in January 2024.
The suspects — Ruben Tamrazian, 26; Ararat Chirkinian, 39; Vahe Muradkhanyan, 32, all of Glendale, and Alfiya Zuckerman, 39, of Valley Village — have been charged with insurance fraud and conspiracy.
The California Department of Insurance began investigating the alleged bear attacks after an insurance company received a claim in January and suspected fraud.
The vehicle owners told their insurance company that a bear entered their 2010 Rolls Royce Ghost in Lake Arrowhead, causing extensive interior damage. They even provided video footage of the supposed incident.
The video showed what looked like a furry creature rooting around inside the vehicle. But after a closer look, investigators determined the bear was a person in a bear costume.
To confirm it wasn’t an actual bear, a biologist from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife reviewed the footage and concluded it was “clearly a human in a bear suit.”
A search warrant executed at one suspect’s home led to the discovery of the bear costume and handheld claws that were believed to have been used in the alleged fraud.
California Department of Insurance says investigators found a bear costume at the home of a suspect who claimed their vehicle was attacked by a bear in January 2024.
The investigation also uncovered two additional fraudulent claims at the same time and place involving a 2015 Mercedes G63 AMG and a 2022 Mercedes E350, officials said. All three claims featured the same alleged bear damage, with videos provided to different insurance companies.
The four suspects are accused of defrauding their insurance companies of more than $141,000.
The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case.
Man in bear costume accused of insurance fraud
