Rolls-Royce attacked by man in bear costume in insurance scam
11/22/2024 04:00 PM
An insurance investigation has found attacks on three luxury cars – including a Rolls-Royce – were made by a man dressed as a bear.
Police in California have charged four people with insurance fraud and conspiracy after they were arrested for suiting up in bear costumes to stage 'bear attacks' on three luxury cars.
As reported by Carscoops, the 'attacks' occurred in January 2024 – the middle of winter, when California’s Black Bears are typically far less active – and saw two Mercedes-Benz and a Rolls-Royce supposedly fall prey to a curious, aggressive bear.
The insurance claim paperwork said a 'bear' damaged the inside of each vehicle in three separate events, with 'evidence' of the beast's misadventure shown by 'claw marks' on each cars' doors, trims and seats.
"Upon further scrutiny of the video, the investigation determined the bear was actually a person in a bear costume," the California Department of Insurance (CDI) said.
As Carscoops points out, the "comically unrealistic" footage saw what it described as "hilariously uniform" claw marks, which included six scratches in some places, where bears have five.
Raising further suspicion was the claim the three incidents took place on the same night, on the same driveway within a short time frame – prompting the launch of the California Police Department's Operation Bear Claw.
It found the Rolls-Royce Ghost was the first car 'attacked', with the next – a 2015 Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG SUV – falling victim to the 'randomly passing bear' only 13 minutes later, suggesting the cars were purposely positioned.
The third car, a 2022 Mercedes-Benz E350 sedan, is parked in the same position as the other two vehicles, but the time stamp was not switched on during its ‘attack’.
The offenders also failed to get rid of the evidence, with police finding the bear suit – as well as the 'claw tools' used to carry out the damage on the vehicles – when searching the suspect's homes.
Having made claims for each vehicle at different insurance companies, the scammers were looking to claim a total of $US141,839 ($AU219,837) before being unsuited by detectives.
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