Well Known San Francisco Chef Arrested in Connection with Three Bank Robberies
SAN FRANCISCO, CA — San Francisco Police have arrested a well-known California chef, Valentino Luchin, 62, in connection with three bank robberies that occurred on September 10, 2025. According to a police press release, Luchin was identified and apprehended without incident on the same day as the alleged crimes.
Police were initially called to a bank on the 1100 block of Grant Avenue regarding a robbery. Upon arrival, officers were informed that a male suspect had passed a note to an employee demanding money. The employee, citing a fear for their safety, complied with the demand. The suspect then departed the area with a bag of U.S. currency.
Further investigation by the SFPD Robbery Unit, with assistance from SFPD Ambassadors and community tips, linked Luchin to two additional bank robberies in the same district that day. These incidents reportedly involved a similar suspect description and method of operation.
Luchin, who previously worked as an executive chef at the acclaimed San Francisco restaurant Rose Pistola and owned his own establishment, Ottavio Osteria, was booked into San Francisco County Jail on multiple charges, including robbery and attempted robbery. This is not Luchin’s first legal encounter of this nature; he was arrested for a 2018 bank robbery in Orinda, California. At that time, he reportedly cited financial difficulties following the closure of his restaurant as a factor.
