Tweet Facebook Mail California has seen its share of bears breaking into cars. But bears caught on camera entering luxury cars tipped off insurers that something wasn't quite right. In what's dubbed "Operation Bear Claw," the California Insurance Department said four Los Angeles residents were arrested this week, accused of defrauding three insurance companies out of nearly US$142,000 ($220,153) by claiming a bear had caused damage to their vehicles.
The group is accused of providing video footage from the San Bernardino Mountains in January of a "bear" moving inside a Rolls-Royce and two Mercedes to the insurance companies as part of their damage claims, the department said. Photos provided by the insurance department show what appeared to be scratches on the seats and doors. READ MORE: Israel expands military ground operation in Lebanon Four men have been arrested after allegedly using a bear costume to stage attacks on luxury cars for insurance claims.
(AP) The company viewing video of the Rolls-Royce suspected that it was not a bear inside, but someone in a bear costume. Detectives found two additional claims and with two different insurance companies for the four with the same date of loss and at the same location. Similar video was provided of the "bear" inside the Mercedes vehicles.
It was not immediately known if the four people arrested had attorneys. READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson Images of "claw damage" were supplied.
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