Investigators Warn Bridge Creek Residents To Be Aware Of Insurance Fraud

Amid storm recovery in Bridge Creek and other areas, investigators are warning against insurance fraud.

Robert Lee is a former OSBI Agent who is now one of seven agents who investigate insurance fraud in Oklahoma. He said while there haven't been any reports so far about unscrupulous roofing companies, it's still early in the process.

Bridge Creek Mayor Stephen Foster said 2200 Bridge Creek homes were affected by the May 6th tornado, 200 were damage and more than 100 were destroyed.

Agent Lee said at least two people have been arrested for stealing air conditioners. “And I think unofficially they've run a few off that seem to be down picking and choosing what metal they wanted to salvage. And what the community is after is somebody that will do complete debris removal, not just cherry pick,” he said.

Bridge Creek Resident Bonnie Keller and her husband Henry count themselves lucky. The tornado ripped the roof off of the house they've been living in since 1970. But Bonnie said Farmers Insurance stepped up and cut her a check a few days ago to make them whole again. “They've been wonderful,” she said.

News 9 also has an update to a story from Wednesday. The Country Mobile Home Park family that was having issues with their landlord called and said their landlord paid them a visit Thursday.

5/14/15 Related Story: Landlord Denies Bridge Creek Family Access To Their Destroyed Home

James Sperry and his sister are both disabled and lost their mobile home in the Bridge Creek tornado. Both had important medications they need in the mobile home. Their landlord Rex Kear had threatened to have Sperry arrested if he or members of his family tried to return to their home for any belongings. Kear's wife claimed she and her husband were just concerned for their safety.

But Thursday, Rex Kear returned the family's $650 they paid for May's rent. Sperry said he really appreciated it.