Burbank's Bites & Billiards, a neighborhood bar and grill on South Bascom Avenue, is trying to keep the lights on and the doors open after what owners say is the sixth smash-and-grab at the storefront. The most recent hit left shattered glass, a torn-up safe and roughly $10,000 gone, leaving staff juggling cleanup, costs and a shaken sense of security while police investigate. Regulars and neighbors say the repeat thefts have rattled the block and sharpened concerns about how vulnerable small businesses are on this stretch of San Jose.
Owners Describe the Latest Theft
Manager Mariana Ramos said staff arrived to a scene that has become disturbingly familiar. "We noticed the glass was shattered, and they were able to get into our safe," Ramos told KRON4. Managers said the break-in happened around 6:30 a.m., and that thieves made off with nearly $10,000 from the safe in this latest raid. The business has filed a police report, and staff are combing through security footage while detectives work the case.
Opened In 2024, Owners Say The Targeting Began Quickly
State business filings show Burbanks Bites and Billiards was formed in April 2024, according to BizProfile, and local directories list the bar and grill at 398 S. Bascom Ave through the Chamber of Commerce. Those listings note the restaurant's two-year run in the Burbank neighborhood and pin down its exact storefront spot. The string of smash-and-grab thefts has drawn added attention from law enforcement after recent arrests in a separate sledgehammer robbery at a Valley Fair area mall, according to a San José Police Department release.
Security Steps And Community Response
Owners say they are now investing in tougher physical protections, including plans to install a gate over the doors, and are leaning on regulars and nearby residents to help keep the business going. The cycle has been exhausting, Ramos told KRON4: "We take a couple steps forward and it’s like 20 steps back," she said, describing the emotional and financial toll of being hit again and again. Police have not announced any arrests in the latest case and say the investigation is still active.
For now, Burbank's Bites & Billiards remains open, though managers say the break-ins have forced them to rethink operating hours and staffing as they weigh the cost of extra security. San José police say they are continuing to investigate, and the bar’s owners say they will keep working with detectives while the neighborhood keeps a wary eye out for any new leads.
