Celebrity chef's Lamborghini stolen in S.F. heist S.F. CRIME

Food Network celeb Guy Fieri Food Network celeb Guy Fieri Photo: Handout Photo: Handout Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Celebrity chef's Lamborghini stolen in S.F. heist 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

The thief pulled the heist with panache and was gone in a flash, but will he get the cash?

Most likely not, investigators are saying with somewhat bemused - though still serious - shakes of their heads.

That's because it's going to be mighty hard to sell what an unusually athletic thief using climbing gear stole from a swanky car dealership in San Francisco early Tuesday morning: a 2008 Lamborghini Gallardo sports car.

For one, as one of the most exclusive, distinctively designed and longed-for vehicles in the world, the car will stand out like neon wherever it is driven. It's even bright yellow, making it even more conspicuous.

For another, the car is worth more than $200,000 - and is owned by celebrity chef Guy Fieri, star of the game show "Minute to Win It" and "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives." Not the sort of thing that peddles easily on a used car lot or in the want ads, investigators note.

"I'm sure it's a really hot item, and a lot of people are looking for it," said San Francisco police Officer Eric Chiang. "It'll be pretty hard to sell, let alone hide."

Fieri, who lives in Santa Rosa, could not be reached for comment. And managers of the Bentley, Lamborghini, Lotus dealership on Van Ness Avenue where the chef's prized ride was until Tuesday, were pointedly not saying much.

Small wonder. For a dealership whose current offerings include a $287,140 Bentley Continental Supersports 2+2 and a $255,340 Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder, publicity about thefts would be little desired.

"No comment at all. Thank you very much for your call," a man who answered the phone Tuesday said three times in a row when asked about the heist.

This much was clear, though. Sometime in the wee hours of Tuesday, a thief climbed up to the roof of the dealership, attached a climbing rope, and then rappelled into the showroom, investigators said.

He - or she - then cut the lock to the dealership's garage door and drove off with Fieri's car.

Considering the car can hit 60 mph in less than four seconds and is capable of topping 190 mph, investigators are presuming the getaway was quick.