Barbershop owner devastated after thieves stole his 'rare' cat in a Thanksgiving break-in — a loss far more ‘priceless’ than the $14,000 in damage

South Los Angeles barbershop owner Joe Gomez faced a shocking start to Thanksgiving Day when his beloved "rare" cat was stolen during a break-in that left his shop damaged. Early on the morning of Thursday, November 27, 2025, Gomez learned from one of his barbers that three masked men had driven a pickup truck straight into the shop around 2:30 a.m., crashing through the front wall and windows. The thieves fled with the cat, along with barber machines and merchandise, leaving Gomez devastated. For him, the loss of his cat Simba was far more significant than the thousands of dollars lost in property damage, as the cat held a special place in his heart and daily life.

As reported by the New York Post on Monday, December 1, 2025, the ordeal began when Gomez first discovered the break-in at 7:30 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day, alerted by a barber who had arrived at the shop. The burglars’ actions were caught on surveillance video, showing them hauling the $2,000-worth Simba out in his cage and into a tan Toyota pickup truck. Gomez believes the thieves targeted Simba because Savannah cats are "rare" and valuable. “The burglars’ intentions were to steal the cat,” read their Instagram post. Part domestic cat and part African serval, early-generation Savannah cats can be worth up to $20,000, as per a Savannah cat breeder in North Carolina.

Gomez, who had saved for years to buy Simba, explained, “I think they came to take him because they thought he was worth a lot and could sell him…But his value to me is priceless. He is my cat.” Known for their intelligence, Savannah cats can even open doors or turn on faucets, as per The International Cat Association. Gomez hopes Simba will use his smarts to escape if held by the thieves. He also worries about Simba’s safety, noting, “He is also very loud. That’s my fear because they are going to mistreat him when he is making those noises, and hurt him to make him quiet.” As for other damages, the South LA shop owner reportedly lost items worth $14,000, besides his beloved pet. 

Since the break-in, Gomez has been at the shop to protect the remaining property while trying to repair the damage. He has also enlisted private investigator Moses Castillo, a retired detective, who traced a possible address for the suspects using the robbers’ license plate. Gomez revealed on GoFundMe that they felt heartbroken by the violation of their business and home. He added, “The theft of our car, our beloved cat, and the tools we use to serve our clients has left us devastated.” Emphasizing the importance of Simba over possessions, the social media post read, "We just want our cat Simba back. Material stuff comes and goes."

Despite the stress and sadness, Gomez has found comfort in the support from his clients and community. "It makes me thankful for the clients I have," he said. With over 700 shares on his social media post, he feels a renewed sense of gratitude as people rally to help find Simba. "It makes me feel thankful that they are all helping me find him," he added. While waiting for a follow-up from the police and continuing to work with the private investigator, Gomez remains hopeful that Simba will be returned safely.