California chef suspected in 3 bank robberies in single day

Celebrity chef Valentino Luchin accused of robbing 3 San Francisco banks in one day

Celebrity chef Valentino Luchin is accused of robbing three San Francisco banks on the same day last week. Luchin, 62, faces multiple charges of robbery and attempted robbery for the spree, according to the San Francisco Police Department. He allegedly passed notes to bank tellers and demanded money before fleeing each scene last Wednesday. “Upon arrival, officers learned that the male suspect entered the business and passed a note to an employe…

Famed San Francisco chef arrested for string of bank robberies

A prominent Bay Area chef was arrested last week for allegedly robbing three San Francisco banks in a single day, authorities said. Valentino Luchin, 62, of San Francisco, was taken into custody on Sept. 10 after allegedly passing notes demanding money to bank tellers at three separate locations in the city’s Central District, according to the San Francisco Police Department. The first incident occurred around 12:02 p.m. when Luchin allegedly en…

Bay Area celebrity chef robs 3 banks in one day, police say

A celebrated Bay Area chef faces robbery charges after police said he targeted three San Francisco banks in one day. It's his second arrest for bank robbery since 2018.

Renowned Walnut Creek chef arrested — again — in bank robbery spree

SAN FRANCISCO — At this point, it’s probably safe to assume that Valentino Luchin is better at cooking risotto, calamari and grilled lamb sirloin than he is at robbing banks. In 2018, the celebrated chef and former owner of an Italian restaurant in Walnut Creek pleaded guilty to robbing an Orinda bank and received a yearlong jail sentence, followed by probation. Now he’s back in jail, this time in San Francisco, where prosecutors accuse him of r…