It is not unusual for bears to show up in inhabited areas, especially in California. But something was wrong in some nighttime footage showing bears damaging luxury cars. The videos were sent to insurance companies for damage compensation claims. The images did not fully convince those who dealt with the cases and, so, the suspicions triggered the investigations: the results are sensational.
Fake bears break into luxury cars and damage them: video
According to the reconstruction of Associated Pressthe insurance company that received video of a bear damaging a Rolls-Royce immediately suspected that there was not an animal inside the vehicle, but a human disguised as a bear. Yet, in California it is common to see bears approaching houses to look for food in garbage cans or even rummage in refrigerators. Some were seen bathing in the pool.
Other insurance companies have received similar videos of bears entering cars parked in the backyard at night and damaging the upholstery, in this case of two Mercedes, a 2015 G63 AMG and a 2022 E350. Thus, the Department of California insurance has launched an investigation. In photos provided by the state department, what appeared to be scratches could be seen on the seats and doors of the cars in question.
The department hired a biologist to examine the three videos, who concluded that it was “clearly a human dressed as a bear.” Also because in the images you can see that the door is opened with evident ease, unusual for an animal. After executing a search warrant, investigators later found the bear costume in the suspects’ home.
In what was dubbed “Operation Bear Claw,” the California Department of Insurance concluded its investigation by arresting the four, Los Angeles residents. He is accused of defrauding three insurance companies of nearly $142,000 with fake footage of a “bear” moving inside a Rolls-Royce and two Mercedes.
As reported NbcNewsa spokesperson for the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office said the cases are under review for a decision on charges.
