• Valentino Luchin, a chef, allegedly robbed three banks in San Francisco on September 10.
• He reportedly used notes to demand cash from bank tellers during the robberies.
• Luchin is a repeat offender, previously arrested for a similar crime in 2018.
• He faces multiple charges, including robbery and attempted robbery.
• Luchin has a background in culinary arts, having worked in notable Bay Area restaurants.

Valentino Luchin, a 62-year-old chef from San Francisco, was arrested on September 10 for allegedly robbing three banks in a single day. The first robbery occurred at approximately 12:02 p.m. when Luchin reportedly entered a bank in Chinatown and passed a note demanding money, after which he fled with the cash, according to the Los Angeles Times and ABC News.

Following this incident, Luchin allegedly targeted two more banks in the Central District, which were also reported to have similar robbery methods. Investigators, aided by SFPD Ambassadors and community tips, quickly identified Luchin as the suspect and arrested him without incident, according to SFGATE and the Los Angeles Times.

Luchin was booked into San Francisco County Jail facing multiple charges, including two counts of robbery and one count of attempted robbery. This incident marks his second encounter with law enforcement for similar offenses, having previously robbed a bank in Orinda in 2018, as reported by the Los Angeles Times and ABC News.

Prior to his legal issues, Luchin was recognized for his culinary skills, working as an executive chef and head chef at well-regarded restaurants such as Rose Pistola and Ottavio in the Bay Area. His culinary career has been negatively impacted by his financial troubles following the closure of Ottavio in 2016, according to SFGATE and ABC News.