3 sentenced in 'unbelievable' bear attack insurance scam

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | April 17, 2026 | By Gillian Mohney

[artichokegrower]

Multiple people in Glendale have been sentenced in a bizarre felony insurance fraud case involving a bear costume and luxury cars.

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TOPICS: Culture/Society; US: California
KEYWORDS: california; fraud; gillianmohney; glendale; insurance; sfchronicle

[artichokegrower]

I guess the facts didn’t bear out their claim

[pgyanke]

Insurance company is going to claw back the proceeds of the claim.

[rlmorel]

"BEAR F***ER! DO YOU NEED ASSISTANCE?"

[DouglasKC]

I am amazed that they could even think of such a thing. Dumb yes. Destined to fail...probably. But even so hiring a guy too put a bear suit on and tear up cars is pretty genius if you ask me.

[PGR88]

I’m trying to figure out how the scheme was supposed to make money.

[Billthedrill]

After a search of the suspects’ homes, detectives discovered a bear costume complete with what appeared to be a stainless steel meat shredder claw used to mimic the bear attack.

I don't think that's quite what "the right to bear arms" means, but what the heck do I know?

[SkyDancer]

Just the bear facts ma’am.

[misterdarcey]

Right to bear arms - good.
Right to arm bears - not so much.

[GSWarrior]

Paging Dennis Weaver

[Ol' Dan Tucker]

I’m trying to figure out how the scheme was supposed to make money.

Hazarding a guess, probably making false damage claims caused by a bear.

Take the car to an associate 'mechanic' who submits the claim to the insurance company and splits the proceeds.

Frankly, I'm surprised the insurance adjuster didn't catch onto the scheme, unless they were in on it, too.

[Ol' Dan Tucker]

[DAC21]

Not the usual suspects, other than Glendale CA has a large Arminian population and these perps are Arminian.