Monrovia Restaurant Owners Robbed of $140K Life Savings

Thieves broke into the family's home and stole their entire retirement nest egg.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 8:12pm

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A pair of Monrovia restaurant owners, Phiyapan Pimolasavakun and Vorawat, are devastated after thieves broke into their home and stole $140,000 - their life savings earned from decades of hard work running their restaurant, the Burger Basket. Security camera footage captured two masked men entering the home and taking the lockbox containing the couple's retirement funds.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the vulnerability of small business owners who have invested their life savings into their enterprises. The theft has completely upended the Narkmanee family's plans for retirement and their American Dream of owning a successful restaurant.

The details

According to the family, the thieves broke into their home through a bathroom window on March 26 and stole a lockbox containing $140,000 in cash savings. The couple's son, Jesse Narkmanee, said the theft has devastated his family, with his mother crying uncontrollably and his father having to be hospitalized due to the stress. The Narkmanee family had immigrated to the U.S. from Thailand over 30 years ago and spent decades working in restaurants before finally saving up enough to open their own Burger Basket restaurant.

  • The break-in occurred around 5:30 pm on March 26, 2026.
  • The Burger Basket restaurant is currently closed indefinitely as one of the owners recovers from the stress of the incident.

The players

Phiyapan Pimolasavakun

Co-owner of the Burger Basket restaurant in Monrovia, California, and victim of the home break-in and theft of the family's $140,000 life savings.

Vorawat

Co-owner of the Burger Basket restaurant in Monrovia, California, and victim of the home break-in and theft of the family's $140,000 life savings.

Jesse Narkmanee

The son of Phiyapan Pimolasavakun and Vorawat, who expressed shock and devastation over the theft that has upended his family's American Dream.

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What they’re saying

“Someone in my house, it was very scary to me.”

— Phiyapan Pimolasavakun, Co-owner, Burger Basket restaurant

“It's really bad, it's terrible, it's horrible. I can't imagine that because we're busy working hard and they just come in 10 minutes and took it all away.”

— Phiyapan Pimolasavakun, Co-owner, Burger Basket restaurant

“I was shocked, horrified— a wide range of emotions. Emotions I've never felt before, as if somebody passed away. This is something I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.”

— Jesse Narkmanee, Son of Phiyapan Pimolasavakun and Vorawat

What’s next

The Monrovia Police Department is investigating the break-in and theft, but has not yet provided any updates on the status of the case.

The takeaway

This devastating crime has shattered the Narkmanee family's hard-earned American Dream, highlighting the vulnerability of small business owners who have invested their life savings into their enterprises. The theft has left the family facing an uncertain future and the loss of their retirement nest egg.