California Chef Arrested for Robbing Three Banks in One Day
- Victor Nwoko
- Sep 17
- 2 min read
Valentino Luchin, 62, a well-known California chef with a history in San Francisco’s restaurant scene, was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of robbing three banks in a single day. Luchin, who previously worked at Rose Pistola and owned Ottavio Osteria, faced multiple robbery charges after police linked him to three robberies that occurred in the same area.
San Francisco police responded to one of the incidents, where an employee reported that a man passed a note demanding money. Fearing for their safety, the employee complied, giving the suspect a bag of U.S. currency before he fled. Investigators later determined two additional bank robberies had occurred that same day, involving a suspect with a similar description and modus operandi. Community tips helped authorities identify Luchin as the suspect in all three incidents.
Officers executed a strategic plan to arrest Luchin at his Central District home, taking him into custody without incident. He was booked into San Francisco County Jail and faces two counts of robbery and one of attempted robbery. Police have not disclosed the total amount of money stolen.
This is not Luchin’s first brush with the law. In 2018, he was arrested on suspicion of armed robbery at a Citibank in California. At that time, Luchin allegedly used a fake gun to steal $18,000 in cash before being apprehended hours later at a health club near his home. In a jailhouse interview, Luchin admitted that the closure of his restaurant, Ottavio Osteria, in 2016 left him in financial distress. He expressed regret over his actions, noting, “Desperation leads you to do things you never thought you were capable of.”
Luchin, who is Italian-born, had also joined the Old Clam House in 2022, one of San Francisco’s oldest restaurants, though it is unclear if he remains employed there.
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