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Suspects alleged a bear damaged their car, but 'it was actually a person in a bear costume'

The four suspects tried to allege a bear damaged their cars in LA. They're now facing insurance fraud charges.

LOS ANGELES — A bear costume was at the center of an alleged insurance fraud bust in Los Angeles Wednesday.

Four people in L.A. were arrested after investigators said they blamed a bear for damaging their cars, but investigators alleged it was actually a person in a bear costume.

The investigation was launched after suspicions rose from an insurance company. The suspects alleged a bear in Lake Arrowhead damaged their 2010 Rolls Royce Ghost, damaging its interior, and they even provided a video of it happening.

However, according to the California Department of Insurance, that was no bear. It was allegedly a person in a bear suit.

Credit: CA Department of Insurance

Investigators also found two additional insurance claims with two different companies, listing the same date of loss at the same location for a 2015 Mercedes and 2022 Mercedes.

Officials said the suspects used the bear costume to make it look like a bear damaged the cars. A biologist from the California Department of Wildlife was able to affirm that the so-called bear from the video was "clearly a human in a bear suit." A bear suit was also found in the suspects' home.

Officials said the companies were defrauded of $141,839.

The four suspects faced insurance fraud and conspiracy charges:

  • Ruben Tamrazian, 26, of Glendale
  • Ararat Chirkinian, 39, of Glendale
  • Vahe Muradkhanyan, 32, of Glendale
  • Alfiya Zuckerman, 39, of Valley Village

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