SFPD Arrests Chef Valentino Luchin in Connection to Bank Robbery Spree
The San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) swiftly apprehended Valentino Luchin, a 62-year-old chef, on September 10, 2025, following an investigation into a series of bank robberies in the Central District. Luchin is suspected of robbing at least three banks in a single day.
Details of the Arrest and Robberies
On September 10th, officers responded to a robbery at a bank on the 1100 block of Grant Avenue. An employee reported that a male suspect passed a note demanding money. Fearing for their safety, the employee complied, providing the suspect with U.S. currency. The suspect, later identified as Valentino Luchin, fled the scene.
The SFPD Robbery Unit took over the investigation. With assistance from SFPD Ambassadors and community tips, investigators identified Luchin, who resided in the Central District, as the suspect. Officers formulated a strategic plan that resulted in his apprehension without incident.
Further investigation revealed that two additional bank robberies with a similar suspect description and modus operandi (MO) occurred in the Central District on the same day, also attributed to Luchin.
Charges and Previous Offenses
Valentino Luchin was transported to San Francisco County Jail and booked on charges of robbery (211 PC), attempted robbery (664/211 PC 2nd), and robbery (211 PC 2nd degree). SFPD case numbers related to these incidents are 250-509-159, 250-508-985, and 250-509-165.
This isn't Luchin's first encounter with law enforcement. In 2018, he was arrested for robbing a bank in Orinda, California, using a fake gun and stealing $18,000. He pleaded guilty and served a year in jail, followed by probation. At the time, he attributed his actions to financial difficulties following the closure of his restaurant, Ottavio Osteria, in 2016.
Background and Career
Valentino Luchin, originally from the Veneto region of Italy, has worked at several high-profile restaurants in San Francisco. He served as the executive chef at Rose Pistola in North Beach before opening Ottavio Osteria in Walnut Creek. More recently, in 2022, SFGate reported that Luchin was joining the Old Clam House as their chef.
Luchin is currently held on $200,000 bail and is facing four charges of second-degree robbery and attempted robbery, according to the jail booking log. The investigation is ongoing.
| Incident Details | Description |
|---|---|
| Suspect | Valentino Luchin, 62 |
| Location | San Francisco, Central District |
| Date | September 10, 2025 |
| Charges | Robbery, Attempted Robbery |
| Previous Arrest | 2018 bank robbery in Orinda |