A San Francisco chef has been arrested in connection with three bank robberies that occurred on September 10. Valentino Luchin, 62, is facing multiple charges, including robbery and attempted robbery, according to the San Francisco Police Department.

The first robbery took place shortly after noon at a bank located on the 1100 block of Grant Avenue. An employee reported that a man entered the bank, handed her a note demanding cash, and then fled the scene. Police later discovered that two additional bank robberies occurred that same day in the Central District, which includes popular areas like Union Square and Russian Hill. The robberies shared similarities in the suspect's description and method.

Authorities identified Luchin as the suspect and arrested him. He was booked into county jail on charges related to the robberies. Luchin has a prior criminal record; in 2018, he pleaded guilty to robbing a bank in Orinda, where he reportedly walked in wearing gloves and sunglasses, brandished a gun, and demanded cash. He left that bank with approximately $18,000.

After his arrest in 2018, Luchin expressed regret for his actions, attributing them to financial difficulties following the closure of his restaurant, Ottavio, in 2016. He stated, "I thought it was a good plan, but it was not."

Before his legal troubles, Luchin was known as the executive chef at Rose Pistola, a well-regarded Italian restaurant in San Francisco. He later opened Ottavio in Walnut Creek, where he served as both owner and head chef. However, the restaurant's closure led to significant financial strain for him.

As of now, it is unclear whether Luchin is still employed at the Old Clam House, one of San Francisco's oldest restaurants, where he was reported to have joined as a chef in 2022. He remains in custody as the investigation continues.