The owners of a restaurant in Sherman Oaks say they have been targeted by burglars seven times since they opened seven months ago, so they have decided to take a drastic step to stem their losses.

As of Friday, they stopped accepting cash.

“There has been a significant impact to our team’s morale and sense of safety as well as significant financial impacts,” HomeState, a Mexican restaurant located at 13424 Ventura Blvd, posted on Instagram. “We have done our best to increase security but understand that cash is an incentivization for criminals to burglarize.”

Restaurant goes cashless
Two men were captured on surveillance video shattering glass and entering the restaurant during a burglary this week. February 2023 (HomeState)

In the latest burglary this week, two men were captured on surveillance video shattering glass and entering the restaurant. Employees told KTLA they got away with iPads and laptops.

“Seriously, it’s heartbreaking,” HomeState customer and local resident Henri Abergel told KTLA. “This community has been really good to everyone, and I just don’t understand why this is happening right next door to us. This is such a wonderful neighborhood.”

Other restaurants, including Casa Vega on Ventura Boulevard, posted on social media that they will also consider going cashless.