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Celebrity chef Valentino Luchin arrested for San Francisco bank robbery spree
Valentino Luchin, a renowned chef once celebrated for his role in San Francisco’s culinary scene, has been arrested on charges of carrying out three bank robberies in a single day. The 62-year-old faces multiple counts of robbery and attempted robbery after the incidents unfolded last Wednesday.
Authorities allege that Luchin entered three separate banks, handed notes demanding money to employees, and fled with cash-filled bags. Bank tellers, fearing for their safety, complied with his demands. Police connected the robberies through evidence gathered during the investigation, eventually identifying Luchin as the suspect. He was apprehended at his San Francisco residence and has been booked into the county jail. Officials have not yet disclosed the total amount stolen.
Luchin gained fame as the executive chef of Rose Pistola, a landmark Italian restaurant in San Francisco’s North Beach neighborhood, which closed in 2017. He later opened Ottavio, another restaurant that eventually shuttered. This is not the first time Luchin has faced legal trouble; in 2018, he confessed to robbing a Bay Area bank, citing financial struggles and pressure to support his family as motives.
The recent string of robberies has shocked both the local culinary community and longtime residents who remember Luchin’s contributions to the city’s vibrant dining culture. The investigation remains ongoing as police work to uncover further details.
