Los Angeles, United States - November 08, 2024 In an astonishing twist worthy of Hollywood, four Los Angeles area residents were arrested today following an investigation dubbed "Operation Bear Claw." Authorities allege Ruben Tamrazian, 26, Ararat Chirkinian, 39, Vahe Muradkhanyan, 32, all of Glendale, and Alfiya Zuckerman, 39, of Valley Village, orchestrated an elaborate scheme involving fake bear attacks to collect insurance payouts. The Department of Insurance discovered the suspects claimed on January 28, 2024, that a bear had entered and damaged their 2010 Rolls Royce Ghost in Lake Arrowhead. The suspects provided video footage depicting a bear in the vehicle to substantiate their claims. However, detectives determined it was not a wild animal but a person in a bear costume. Further investigation revealed two similar claims involving a 2015 Mercedes G63 AMG and a 2022 Mercedes E350, with the same date and location. A biologist from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife confirmed that the videos showed a human in a bear suit, not a real bear. Detectives later discovered the bear costume during a search of the suspects’ residence. The alleged fraud totaled $141,839 across multiple insurance claims. The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office will prosecute, with support from the Glendale Police Department and California Highway Patrol.