LA Fraudsters Used Bear Suit to Attack Luxury Cars

Three people convicted in insurance fraud scheme involving staged bear attacks on high-end vehicles

Apr. 17, 2026 at 11:19pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a shredded car seat upholstery, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, conceptually representing the damage caused by the staged bear attacks.Damaged luxury car interiors exposed a fraudulent insurance scheme involving a human-sized bear costume.Los Angeles Today

Three Los Angeles County residents have been convicted for an insurance fraud scheme in which they claimed bears had attacked their luxury cars, including a Rolls-Royce Ghost and two Mercedes Benzes. However, an investigation by the California Department of Insurance found that the supposed 'bear attacks' were actually carried out by a person wearing a bear costume.

Why it matters

This case highlights the lengths some individuals will go to commit insurance fraud, as well as the importance of thorough investigations by authorities to uncover such schemes. It also raises questions about the vulnerability of high-end vehicles to vandalism and the need for improved security measures.

The details

According to officials, the four suspects from Glendale and Valley Village filed insurance claims in 2024 stating that a bear had crawled inside their Rolls-Royce Ghost in Lake Arrowhead and attacked two of their Mercedes Benzes. However, the Department of Insurance's 'Operation Bear Claw' investigation found that the videos submitted as evidence clearly showed a person in a bear costume breaking into the vehicles.

  • In 2024, the four suspects filed insurance claims for the alleged bear attacks.
  • This week, three of the four suspects pleaded no contest to felony insurance fraud charges.
  • Ararat Chirkinian is set to return to court for a preliminary hearing in September.

The players

Alfiya Zuckerman

One of the three people convicted in the insurance fraud scheme.

Ruben Tamrazian

One of the three people convicted in the insurance fraud scheme.

Vahe Muradkhanyan

One of the three people convicted in the insurance fraud scheme.

Ararat Chirkinian

The fourth person allegedly involved in the plot, who is set to return to court for a preliminary hearing in September.

California Department of Insurance

The state agency that conducted the 'Operation Bear Claw' investigation and uncovered the insurance fraud scheme.

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What they’re saying

“Videos submitted as part of those claims clearly showed what appeared to be a human wearing a bear suit crawling through the cars, according to wildlife experts.”

— California Department of Insurance

What’s next

Ararat Chirkinian is set to return to court for a preliminary hearing in September.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of thorough investigations by authorities to uncover insurance fraud schemes, as well as the need for improved security measures to protect high-end vehicles from vandalism and other criminal activity.