Monrovia Burger Basket owners robbed of $140,000 life savings

Elderly couple's retirement funds stolen in brazen home burglary

Apr. 18, 2026 at 5:27am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a damaged metal lock or safe, its surface heavily textured and reflecting the harsh light of the camera flash, conceptually representing the violation and loss experienced by the victims of this crime.The brazen burglary that robbed a beloved Monrovia restaurant couple of their life savings has left the community shaken and searching for answers.Monrovia Today

The owners of Monrovia's beloved Burger Basket restaurant, Pan and Vorawat Pimoslavakun, had their entire $140,000 life savings stolen from their home in a recent burglary. Security cameras captured the suspects breaking in and ransacking the elderly couple's belongings, including taking priceless family heirlooms. The Pimoslavakuns had been hoping to retire in the next 5-7 years with the savings they kept in a lockbox at home, but now face an uncertain future.

Why it matters

The theft of the Pimoslavakuns' life savings has devastated the longtime owners of the iconic Burger Basket, forcing them to temporarily close their restaurant due to the stress. This incident highlights the vulnerability of elderly small business owners who keep large sums of cash at home, as well as the financial hardship that can result from such a significant loss of savings.

The details

According to security footage, the burglars first knocked on the door, then broke through a window, manhandled the family's dogs, and stole the $140,000 cash along with priceless family heirlooms. The Pimoslavakuns, who immigrated from Thailand decades ago, had been saving the money for over 30 years to fund their retirement. Their son, Jesse Narkmanee, had warned them against keeping such a large amount of cash at home, but the elderly couple trusted the 'old-school Asian community' practice of storing savings in cash.

  • The burglary occurred on March 26, 2026.
  • The Burger Basket restaurant was closed for a couple of weeks after Vorawat Pimoslavakun was hospitalized due to stress from the incident.

The players

Pan Pimoslavakun

Co-owner of the Burger Basket restaurant in Monrovia, California, who had been saving $140,000 in cash for her retirement.

Vorawat Pimoslavakun

Co-owner of the Burger Basket restaurant, who was hospitalized due to stress from the burglary that stole the couple's life savings.

Jesse Narkmanee

The Pimoslavakuns' son, who had warned his parents against keeping such a large amount of cash at home.

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What they’re saying

“We don't have much time left already. We're not young anymore.”

— Pan Pimoslavakun, Co-owner, Burger Basket

“Those monies is actually for my retirement. I've been working for 30 years.”

— Pan Pimoslavakun, Co-owner, Burger Basket

“Old-school Asian community. They like to put their life savings in cash cause that's what they trust.”

— Jesse Narkmanee, Son of Pimoslavakuns

What’s next

The Monrovia Police Department is actively investigating the case and has encouraged anyone with information about the suspects or the stolen vehicle to contact detectives.

The takeaway

This heartbreaking incident underscores the financial vulnerability of elderly small business owners who keep large sums of cash at home, as well as the need for better financial education and security measures to protect the life savings of immigrant communities. The outpouring of community support for the Pimoslavakuns, however, shows the power of local businesses to bring people together in times of crisis.