LOS ANGELES — A bear costume was at the center of an alleged insurance fraud bust in Los Angeles Wednesday.
Four people in L.A. were arrested after investigators said they blamed a bear for damaging their cars, but investigators alleged it was actually a person in a bear costume.
The investigation was launched after suspicions rose from an insurance company. The suspects alleged a bear in Lake Arrowhead damaged their 2010 Rolls Royce Ghost, damaging its interior, and they even provided a video of it happening.
However, according to the California Department of Insurance, that was no bear. It was allegedly a person in a bear suit.
Investigators also found two additional insurance claims with two different companies, listing the same date of loss at the same location for a 2015 Mercedes and 2022 Mercedes.
Officials said the suspects used the bear costume to make it look like a bear damaged the cars. A biologist from the California Department of Wildlife was able to affirm that the so-called bear from the video was "clearly a human in a bear suit." A bear suit was also found in the suspects' home.
Officials said the companies were defrauded of $141,839.
The four suspects faced insurance fraud and conspiracy charges:
- Ruben Tamrazian, 26, of Glendale
- Ararat Chirkinian, 39, of Glendale
- Vahe Muradkhanyan, 32, of Glendale
- Alfiya Zuckerman, 39, of Valley Village