<div><strong>TL;DR: My parents, owners of Burger Basket in Monrovia, were victims of a burglary on March 26, 2026. Thieves targeted my parents and broke into the apartment (walking distance from Burger Basket) they have been living in for almost 30 years when they left for work. These thieves manhandled the family dogs, stole about $20K in valuables and roughly $140K in life savings, and traumatized our family (my dad was admitted to the hospital from a stress-induced illness shortly after these events and is still there). </strong>
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<div><strong>[Update: My dad has been discharged! ]</strong>
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<div><strong>We’re incredibly grateful he’s home and recovering.</strong>
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<div><strong>[Update: Community Help Needed]</strong>
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<div><strong>I’ve created a new website, helpburgerbasket.com, where our community can come together to help identify the individuals responsible for the recent burglary.</strong>
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<div><strong>If you recognize anything—faces, clothing, the vehicle, or suspicious behavior—your input could make a real difference. Even small details matter.</strong>
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<div><strong><a href="https://www.helpburgerbasket.com/" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.helpburgerbasket.com/</a></strong>
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<div>Dear Monrovia Family,
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<div>My name is Jesse, the only son of Phiyapan and Vorawat, who own and run Burger Basket on Mayflower Avenue and Duarte Road in Monrovia, California, and I am helping them write this letter on their behalf. <strong>On March 26th, 2026, my parents’ apartment in Monrovia was burglarized by approximately 3–4 perpetrators</strong>, along with a getaway driver driving a light gray <strong>Nissan Rogue SUV</strong> with stolen license plates 9FIDO94 (see picture on website). An <strong>older middle-aged man in a white hat</strong> (see picture on website), who appears to be in his 40s, was the initial scout and violently knocked on our windows to check if no one was in my parents’ apartment. After that, <strong>two perpetrators, who were young men</strong> in their 20s to early 30s (see picture on website), took about 7 minutes to break into my parents’ bathroom top window. They then went into their bedroom, manhandled the three family dogs (we are so grateful the dogs were not seriously hurt), and stole all of my parents’ valuables and keepsakes from three generations of family (maybe around $20,000). But most unfortunately, <strong>they stole her lock box that had all of my parents’ life savings</strong> from working at Burger Basket and years of dedication working in the restaurant industry (probably at least around $140,000). I agree and understand that they should not have kept their life-savings like that, but they are old-fashioned, and it was a mistake in hindsight for them—and the worst-case scenario happened.
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<div>Despite everything, there has been a bright light. For the one week after the robbery, the Monrovia community and surrounding areas have shown overwhelming kindness and support. We’ve seen first-time customers, familiar faces, and people traveling from far away just to support my parents. Your patronage, kind words, and generosity have truly meant the world to them. In fact, they’ve been more moved to tears by your support than by the loss itself. My parents love serving this community and are incredibly grateful to the whole community.
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<div>Now, at this time, I am <strong>asking </strong>the community for <strong>help in these 4 ways</strong>:
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<div><strong>1. Help us find those responsible.</strong>
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<div>If you <strong>see anything suspicious or recognize these individuals</strong>, please contact the Monrovia Police Department immediately. I still pray and hope the investigators can find these people and hopefully recover most of the stolen items and money.
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<div><strong>2. Support, if you are able.</strong>
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<div>I will be setting up a <strong>GoFundMe page for my parents for donations</strong>. I do not expect to reach anywhere near the amount of their personal savings lost, but every bit can help them. Please only donate if you have the means to. They have to start from zero again, but that’s okay because I know that while it is going to be difficult, money can always be made, and I am just grateful that no one got hurt. Also, friends, family, and especially I, their son, will do everything in our power to support them during these tough times.
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<div><strong>3. Continue supporting Burger Basket through patronage.</strong>
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<div>We have decided as a family that we will <strong>close Burger Basket for a couple of days</strong> to help my parents relax after these stressful events. From these events, <strong>my dad has suffered and is now hospitalized with a form of post-traumatic stress condition</strong> (it is probably PTSD, so we are getting professional help for him now), and my mom has also been very stressed and sad too, so they need time to recuperate. However, when it does reopen, I hope you can pay them a <strong>visit and give them your patronage and love.</strong>
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<div><strong>4. Help spread the word.</strong>
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<div>Please share this story with your friends, family, and community. <strong>The more people who see this, the greater the chances of identifying those responsible and helping my parents recover—whether through donations or by supporting Burger Basket.</strong> I will also be creating a website with video evidence and reaching out to local news outlets such as KCAL9 News to expand awareness. Every share truly makes a difference. If you have any information or questions, <strong>please feel free to call or text me.</strong>
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<div><strong>One last thing I would like to say to the 3–4 individuals who stole my parents’ life savings:</strong> I understand life can be difficult. I still remember that since I was a very young boy, my parents worked minimum-wage jobs most of their lives as a restaurant server and cook, and worked really hard for every penny they earned. My aunt and uncle had to take care of me 4 out of 7 days a week, and I will always remember my parents coming home so late and tired to pick me up after working long shifts at the restaurant. It was only when I reached college that they were able to save enough money to buy and take over Burger Basket—a truly dream come true for them. It has been a magical last 5+ years for them, and it all seemed to come crumbling down in one day. I just want to say that I forgive you and ask that you do not do this again to any other family. Seeing my mother cry like that and my father suffer from this trauma is something I would not wish on my worst enemy. <strong>Also, it is not too late to return what you stole to the Monrovia Police Department, even anonymously. Please do the right thing.</strong>
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<div>Phiyapan and Vorawat’s Son,
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<div>Jesse
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<div><strong>UPDATE</strong>: I have been asked some questions on social media, so I want to address these <strong>SIX points</strong> for extra context and full transparency:
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<div>1. I am not surprised the family dogs are so nice (Lucky, Happy, Winchester). Because they have been through copious amount of training with a private trainer (her name is Shy and she is the best btw) and regularly go on walks to the public parks meeting and greeting everyone they see. But Winchester did react defensively and try to bark but at the same time was scared and confused. So they manhandled him and Lucky and locked them in the other room so they would stop bothering them. Happy the German Shepherd literally has an unofficial job at a local retirement home, showering and comforting elderly residents with love. If you met them you would know what I’m talking about.
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<div>2. I installed the cameras there for my parents to yes help protect their home and also their business at Burger Basket. But most importantly I installed them to spy on the dogs
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<div>3. They have never let anyone inside their home except for themselves and me. But I do suspect someone must have scouted the window, area, and the pattern of how my parents go to work. Remember Burger Basket is literally walking distance to their home which was a blessing but now a curse.
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<div>4. Yes I totally agree. They should have kept their 30 years+ of life savings in the bank. We’ve actually had many arguments over that. But they are of Asian culture and old-fashioned and the very worst scenario happened. It’s a generational and cultural difference. Trust me, I wish they had never done that too.
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<div>5. They did not just take lifesavings. They took cash, jewelry, and heirlooms passed down through three Thai family generations all in a similar spot and in one huge swoop. Obviously, my mom does wish she had stored things more securely and concealed—that’s something she regrets (or better yet the bank)—but no one expects this to happen in a place she rented with no problems for almost 30 years. So yes, I do believe and agree she was too complacent.
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<div>6. They were planning to use that money to comfortably retire in their home country of Thailand where living costs are much lower.
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<div><a href="https://www.facebook.com/burgerbasketmonrovia/posts/pfbid0UJCzVQ1AT6EwEKYbpCAYxvBLgWdii5NWLERFHEg8ttpedfUtbaxeVRvVZKpQCp45l" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Burger Basket Monrovia's Facebook Page</a>
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Help Burger Basket Owners Rebuild After Life Savings Stolen

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Help Burger Basket Owners Rebuild After Life Savings Stolen

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