Yahoo TV

Four people have been arrested in California for insurance fraud after multiple claims were filed for bear damage to vehicles, with investigators alleging “a person in a bear costume” was actually responsible.

Footage released by the California Department of Insurance (CDI) shows the alleged “bear” break-ins on January 28 of this year, which involved a Rolls Royce and two Mercedes.

The CDI said that Ruben Tamrazian, 26, of Glendale, Ararat Chirkinian, 39, of Glendale, Vahe Muradkhanyan, 32, of Glendale, and Alfiya Zuckerman, 39, of Valley Village, were arrested and charged with insurance fraud and conspiracy on November 13.

The investigation began after an insurance company raised their suspicions.

“Upon further scrutiny of the video, the investigation determined the bear was actually a person in a bear costume,” the CDI said.

A biologist from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife also reviewed the footage and determined that “it was clearly a human in a bear suit,” according to the CDI.

After executing a search warrant, detectives found a bear costume, the CDI said.

The insurance companies involved were defrauded of $141,839, the CDI said.

The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. Credit: California Department of Insurance (CDI) via Storyful