A Thanksgiving heist has left South Los Angeles barbershop owner Joe Gomez without his beloved Savannah cat, Simba, and over $13,000 in damage and stolen goods. In the early hours of the holiday, burglars rammed a beige Toyota pickup truck into the premises of LA Fresh Cuts, located at 1807 E. Florence Avenue, around 2:30 a.m. before making off with valuable equipment and the shop’s mascot. KTLA reports the incident was caught on surveillance, showing three masked individuals swiftly looting the barbershop and forcibly removing Simba in his kennel.
“It’s a bad neighborhood and I’m trying to prevent these kids from doing what these [burglars] did to me on Thanksgiving,” Gomez lamented in an interview with KTLA, reflecting on his efforts to keep local youth out of trouble by establishing an adjoining boxing gym. In response to the burglary, patrons of LA Fresh Cuts have been supportive, stopping by for haircuts to help the afflicted business. Despite a profound personal loss and the material damages, Gomez insists on keeping the shop open, emphasizing the barbershop’s Instagram post, as it stands as his main source of income.
The theft not only stripped the shop of Simba and essential barber tools but also took cash reserves intended for the shop’s fantasy football leagues, as reported by ABC7. The burglars’ brazen act has Gomez shifting into a makeshift night watchman, now sleeping at the barbershop to deter any further break-ins and losses. He stated the figures, “It’s about $14,000 that I have to cover,” underscoring the financial toll of the burglary.
Gomez has made a plea for Simba’s return, emphasizing the cat’s irreplaceable presence, “He’s not just a number; he’s a family member, so please, bring Simba back,” he told ABC7. A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise funds for the repairs and recovery of the lost items. Meanwhile, anyone with information regarding the incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department at 323-820-6700.
