Four people in Southern California were arrested and accused of insurance fraud after claiming their cars were trashed by a bear, which turned out to be someone in a bear costume. The group submitted claims for damage to a Rolls-Royce Ghost, a Mercedes G63 AMG, and a Mercedes E350, all with video evidence of the bear culprit. The suspects, Ruben Tamrazian, Ararat Chirkinian, Vahe Muradkhanyan, and Alfiya Zuckerman, were arrested on charges of insurance fraud and conspiracy. The scam cost insurance companies $141,839.
The bear costume, which included brown fur, a bear-shaped head, paws, and metal hand tools to simulate claw marks, was found in the suspects’ home. Video evidence of the alleged damage showed minor groove marks on the interior, intended to pass for claw marks. A biologist from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife confirmed it was clearly a human in a bear suit.
While there are bears in the San Bernardino Mountains, they do not wear costumes. The only wild bears in the area are black bears, though they can sometimes be brown. Grizzly bears, which were once found in California, were hunted to extinction by the 1920s. Charges against the four individuals arrested are under review by the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office. No information on their legal representation was available.
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