Here come the cops! 3 bears flee California shopping centre in hilarious video

Deputy Nevins, also known as the "bear whisperer", followed the animals in his cruiser, chuckling, "What are you guys doing?"

A mother bear and her two cubs were spotted on the streets of California on Sunday (19 November) doing early Christmas shopping.

The bears were caught on camera by the deputies in Placer County in the Lighthouse Shopping Centre in Tahoe City. The "felons" scurried away as soon as they saw the police. In the video, a bear can also be seen trying to get into a trash can.

Deputy Nevins, also known as the "bear whisperer", followed the animals in his cruiser and chuckled, "What are you guys doing?" Then added, "Fleeing felons."

The video was shared on the Placer County Sheriff's Office Facebook page. A post on the page read, "Well, our resident bear whisperer, Deputy Nevins, was at it again last night in Tahoe City! He was patrolling the Lighthouse Centre when he encountered these three "little" bears. Looks like the second one was trying to get into the trash can. We love how they all gathered up and took off together! 'Here comes the cops, run!!'"

This is not the first time Deputy Nevins was dealing with bears in the area. In October, he had filmed the chase of a large bear that he caught doing window shopping in downtown Kings Beach at Lake Tahoe, Fox 13 News reported.