Rafu Reports
The community has been rallying around the owners of a popular hamburger stand in Monrovia, after burglars broke into their home and stole their entire life savings, amounting to around $140,000.
Phiyapan Pimoslavakun and Vorawat Narkmanee opened Burger Basket on West Duarte Road in 1963, after the couple immigrated from Thailand. They had hoped to retire on their savings in around five years, using the cash they have been diligently putting away for decades.
Their son, Jesse Narkmanee, said his parents are typical of an “old-school Asian community,” prefering to keep their money at home rather than in a bank, and that he warned them repeatedly not to keep such a large amount of cash at home.
The Monrovia Police Department said burglars broke into the couple’s home on March 26, stealing valuables worth around $20,000 as well as the cash. Jesse Narkmanee said the intruders also “manhandled the three family dogs.”
Security cameras caught images of the suspects rifling through the family’s home, as well as the grey Nissan Rogue they used to get away.
Burger Basket opened for a few days following the burglary, but Narkmanee said the stress of the theft led to his father being hospitalized. The son said he hoped customers would return when the restaurant reopens in the coming days.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to assist the family; as of Wednesday afternoon, nearly $41,000 of its $45,000 goal had been raised.
“We don’t want this to happen to anyone,” Pimoslavakun told a local TV station. “This hurt.”
Monrovia PD is investigating the case and urges anyone with information about the crime to contact detectives at (626) 256-8000.