[MSN] Four Los Angeles-area residents were arrested on Wednesday, Nov. 13 on suspicion of insurance fraud and conspiracy after allegedly falsely claiming a bear got into their vehicles and damaged them.BooBoo was not involved although the perpetrators made a big booboo.
There was no bear, rather, a person in a bear costume was seen in video footage provided with insurance claims.
Dubbed "Operation Bear Claw," the California Department of Insurance began an investigation after an insurance company suspected fraud when the suspects, residents of Glendale and Valley Village, in January reported a bear had gotten into their Rolls-Royce Ghost in Lake Arrowhead.
No pic-a-nic basket was found.
Video footage was provided to the insurance company. The footage was reviewed by investigators, who determined the video showed a person in a bear suit. A biologist from the California Department of Wildlife also reviewed the footage, concurring with investigators that the footage "was clearly a human in a bear suit," according to a news release from the Department of Insurance. After executing a search warrant, detectives found the bear costume in the home of the suspects.
Mr. Ranger vouched for Yogi's whereabouts.