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3 sentenced in ‘unbelievable’ bear attack insurance scam

By Gillian Mohney
Multiple people in Glendale have been sentenced in a bizarre felony insurance fraud case involving a bear costume and luxury cars.

Officials from the California Department of Insurance launched the investigation back in 2024 after an insurance company flagged an unusual claim of a Rolls-Royce Ghost sedan being damaged after a bear climbed inside near Lake Arrowhead. The grainy surveillance footage appeared to show a bear rummaging through the vehicle, and photos submitted showed scratches on the interior of the car, which can retail for over $400,000 when new.

But the video and photos from the scene didn’t look quite right. During the investigation, detectives sent the footage to a biologist from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, who “concluded the animal shown was clearly a human in a bear suit,” according to the news release from the California Department of Insurance. The team then realized similar claims had been made about damage to two Mercedes vehicles.

After a search of the suspects’ homes, detectives discovered a bear costume complete with what appeared to be a stainless steel meat shredder claw used to mimic the bear attack.

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SF Gate

Can’t make this up. California of course.

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Category: Feel Good Stories