Investigators Say Central California Carjacking Was Staged as Insurance Fraud

What initially appeared to be a violent carjacking in rural Central California has been revealed as a staged event meant to defraud an insurance company, according to the Madera County Sheriff’s Office. A woman told authorities that two masked men stole her van—loaded with $60,000 worth of fitness merchandise—after she pulled over near Avenue 21 and Road 26. However, inconsistencies in her story and subsequent investigations unraveled the case.

Deputies launched a search for the vehicle and later found it abandoned in neighboring Merced County. A storage unit containing goods that matched the reported stolen items was also discovered, raising further doubts about the validity of the original claim. Investigators later determined that the incident had been fabricated to obtain a fraudulent insurance payout.

The woman and a male accomplice were each charged with one felony count of insurance fraud and one misdemeanor count of filing a false police report, according to court documents. Sheriff Tyson Pogue stated that the attempted deception wasted resources and could have diverted emergency services from legitimate emergencies.

Both individuals are scheduled for arraignment in early July. The sheriff’s office emphasized the importance of thorough investigative work in uncovering the fraud and preventing misuse of law enforcement services.