NEW YORK - A Schenectady man who filed a $3,298 insurance claim for a broken car window was arrested for fraud Tuesday for smashing the window himself after an insurance adjuster was first unable to find any damage.

Mark Davis, 49, of 1588 Van Vranken Ave., was charged with insurance fraud and falsifying business records. He was arrested by Investigator Jaclyn Oreshan of the Frauds Bureau of the New York State Insurance Department, assisted by New York State Police from Princetown.

According to Oreshan, Davis filed a claim with State Farm Insurance Company on Aug. 19, reporting that someone had smashed the rear window of his 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse. Davis then submitted an affidavit to the company claiming the car was vandalized. He also submitted a $3,298 repair estimate.

An insurance adjuster later inspected the car and found the window intact, so the insurance company contacted Davis, who insisted the window was broken. He asked that the adjuster return to take another look. This time the adjuster found that the window had been smashed. Witnesses later told authorities that Davis broke the window before the adjuster's second visit.

If convicted, Davis could be sentenced to up to seven years in prison. Following his arraignment in Schenectady City Court, he was released pending an Aug. 27 court appearance.