A Korean-owned coffee shop in Pasadena has once again been targeted by thieves. The owner expressed despair, saying it was “the third time” his shop had been burglarized.
According to ABC 7 News, the incident occurred in the early hours of June 5 at Highlight Coffee, located on Lincoln Avenue in Pasadena. Security footage shows a masked intruder smashing the window by throwing an object, then immediately climbing into the store.
The thief moved with precision, heading straight for the register and calmly walking out with the entire cash drawer. The break-in and getaway took less than five minutes. At the time of the burglary, the suspect was wearing a red cap, a long-sleeved top, and black pants.
Frank Kim, the owner, said, “This is the third time this has happened since we opened.” He added, “The thief knew exactly where everything was, and his movements felt oddly familiar. I’m convinced it’s the same person as before.”
Kim said Highlight Coffee opened in 2019, and it was first burglarized just a month after opening. In 2023, he suffered another break-in using a similar method. “We had taken some precautions after the last two incidents, so the damage wasn’t as bad this time,” he said. “But the cost of replacing the shattered window and repairing the register will be even higher.”
Kim has filed a police report with the Pasadena Police Department and submitted the surveillance footage as evidence.
BY HYOUNGJAE KIM [kim.ian@koreadaily.com]
