Criminal Activities of a Bay Area Celebrity Chef: Allegedly Steals from Three Banks Within a Single Day, Cops Confirm
Chef Valentino Luchin Arrested for Bank Robberies
Valentino Luchin, a renowned chef from San Francisco, found himself in a very different kitchen last week - the San Francisco County Jail. Luchin was taken into custody on Sept. 10, booked on charges of robbery and attempted robbery, following allegations that he robbed three San Francisco banks in a single day.
The day in question started with a bank robbery around 12:02 p.m. in Chinatown. Two more banks in the Central District were allegedly robbed by Luchin. According to reports, the first bank robbery yielded an estimated $15,000.
In 2018, Luchin admitted to robbing a PNC bank in Orinda, California. He used what he later claimed was a BB gun during the robbery. Luchin was arrested within three hours of the incident at an athletic club parking lot in Lafayette.
Before his legal troubles, Luchin had a distinguished career in the culinary world. He worked in top restaurants worldwide, specializing in menu design and culinary management. According to Take a Chef, Luchin was the head chef at Ottavio Osteria before he had to close it in 2016. Prior to that, he served as executive chef at San Francisco's Italian restaurant Rose Pistola, where he was known for combining traditional Italian cooking methods with innovative techniques. Luchin was also the former owner of Ottavio restaurant in Walnut Creek.
Luchin, before discussing his bank robberies, mentioned his family during an interview with KGO. He blamed financial struggles for his actions, stating he had been struggling financially since his restaurant closed in 2016.
It's important to note that Luchin's bail is set at $200,000. His previous admission of robbing a PNC bank in Orinda, California, was not mentioned in the current paragraph.
Separately, we regret to inform that film icon, Oscar-winning director, and activist Robert Redford passed away at the age of 89. This event is not related to the events discussed in the current paragraph.
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