Police news.
A New Britain Township man has been charged by the state Attorney General’s Office with felony counts of insurance fraud and criminal attempted theft for allegedly falsifying an auto insurance claim last year.
Jack Arturo Coller, 24, of the 200 block of Forest Park Drive, also faces a felony charge of criminal use of a communications device, according to court documents filed April 28.
In April 2024, the Office of the Attorney General received an insurance fraud referral from Permanent General Assurance Corp. aka The General, that claimed, Coller, on Feb. 15, 2024, reported that his 2014 white BMW 328i sedan was hit by a car at the SEPTA Colmar train station in Hatfield Township, police said.
Coller first allegedly reported the accident to The General on March 11, 2024 through an insurance claim, stating that the crash necessitated an engine replacement, with a total reserve amount of $16,000. The claim was subsequently denied by The General after their investigation concluded that the damage was a result of mechanical issues rather than a collision, police said.
Investigators allege that on Feb. 6, 2024, Coller reinstated his auto insurance policy after a three-month lapse in coverage. On March 11, 2024, Coller reported a claim through the online portal concerning an alleged accident on Feb. 15, 2024, police said.
In the claim, Coller alleged that a car backed into his BMW, damaging his right headlight, which lead to his BMW shutting off right away. He alleged the crash damaged the “right headlight engine.”
Coller allegedly claimed the car need an engine replacement and the car was not a possible total loss.
On March 25, 2024, during a recorded call with The General, Coller allegedly claimed he pulled into the Colmar lot at 3 p.m. Feb. 15, 2024. When he attempted to exit, his BMW was hit on the front passenger side bumper by a blue Toyota Camry, which fled the scene, Coller alleged in his claim.
Coller allegedly reported he was not injured, did not obtain a police report, could not provide a license plate number, and said there were no witnesses. When asked what part of the car was impacted, Coller allegedly said, “The front right headlight, and then, like the whole engine.”
Coller claimed he drove to a Wawa gas station located across the street, where his BMW began to rumble and stopped running once he arrived at Wawa, stating, “The engine was done,” police said.
He told The General his car was towed to BMW of Fort Washington for service, police said, where it was deemed to be a total loss after finding it needed an engine replacement.
On March 26, 2024, an investigator from The General conducted a recorded call with Coller, who allegedly claimed he did not obtain a police report because he was on probation and any contact with police could result in a violation.
Initially, Coller claimed he called a tow company, but when asked for the name of the company, he allegedly said his friend who worked at a Mazda dealership arranged for a tow company to transport the BMW for service, according to the complaint.
When the investigator at The General asked for a phone number for the friend, Coller allegedly said the friend would call The General, but no one ever called.
That same day, Coller allegedly emailed The General pictures of the alleged damage and a service estimate, which diagnosed an engine failure and deemed the car a total loss; the invoice did not recommend any vehicle body repair, police said.
The investigator from The General called BMW of Fort Washington and asked about Coller’s BMW. A service advisor told The General that a diagnostic check was done on Coller’s engine, which indicated a weak battery and alternator, along with abnormal engine noise, police said.
Further investigation revealed severe engine damage, including metal fragments in the oil filter, according to the complaint. BMW advised that the car be declared a total loss, as the estimated repair cost was $12,115, not including labor, which exceeded the car’s value, police said.
On Feb. 27, 2024, Coller was given a service invoice supporting the recommendation that the BMW be considered a total loss due to engine failure, per the complaint. BMW also advised The General that “there is no body damage to the insured vehicle,” police said.
Later, on March 26, 2024, The General had another recorded call with Coller, who was asked if there was any damage prior to the instant loss. Coller allegedly said yes, stating his left car door had been dented. However, he said there were no prior accidents, police said. Coller was asked when the last time was that he changed the oil, to which Coller allegedly replied, “I’m not sure. My cousin did it for me, though. Probably, I’d say September … during the summer.”
Coller was asked if he believed the alleged accident caused his engine failure, to which he said he did not say that, and was simply filing a claim, police said. This is despite Coller’s statements that the crash affected “the whole engine” and the only service listed on the BMW invoice was an engine repair, police said.
On April 19, 2024, The General informed Coller his claim was being denied, as their investigation found that the engine damage to his BMW was consistent with mechanical failure rather than from an alleged collision, according to the complaint.
On March 20, 2025, police interviewed Coller’s friend at the Mazda dealership, who told police he spoke with Coller about his car and provided him a list of tow companies in the area, according to the complaint. The friend told police that it appeared Coller’s BMW seized up due to a lack of oil, police said.
The friend told investigators that Coller mentioned to him he intended to file an insurance claim to have the engine replaced, police said. The friend told Coller that anyone with basic knowledge of cars would immediately understand that the crash would not cause the engine to seize, according to the complaint.
The friend told Coller that his claim would be investigated, and the first thing checked would be the maintenance history of the car, which would reveal he never once had the oil changed, according to the complaint.
“Anyone with half a brain can see his story doesn’t add up,” the friend told police.
On March 24, 2025, police visited BMW of Fort Washington and met with a service manager and technician, wherein a video recording was given to police here the technician recommended a total engine replacement, stating, “It might be the end of the road for this old gal,” police said.
When the technician was asked if a collision could have caused the type of engine damage observed on Coller’s BMW, the technician said it could not, attributing the damage to a lack of oil, police said.
The BMW service manager told police the engine seizing was a result of poor maintenance over time, police said. The technician told Coller there was nothing to claim, according to the complaint.
On April 1, 2025, police talked to Coller, who told police the BMW dealership told him his engine was cooked due to lack of oil, according to the complaint.
Coller allegedly admitted that he had not changed the oil, and the car was eventually repossessed and sold at auction.
Police said Coller denied contacting his insurance company, stating he was on probation and any communication with an insurance provider would have to be reported to his probation officer, potentially resulting in a violation.
Coller told police he had not contacted his insurer, claiming doing so might have led to increased premiums, police said.
When he was told there are several audio recordings of him reporting a claim to The General, Coller allegedly said he could not remember what had happened.
Coller is free on $25,000 unsecured bail ahead of a June 17 preliminary hearing. He is represented by attorney Michael Parlow of Bensalem.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
