Nicholas Almonte, 27, held a woman hostage in her black Mercedes for several minutes after robbing the vehicle at gunpoint. Credit: NYPD
A 27-year-old Long Island City man has been arrested after he went on an armed carjacking spree Thursday morning in his own neighborhood.
Nicholas Almonte is accused of first carjacking a black 2006 Mercedes from a woman at gunpoint at about 9:40 a.m. on Borden Avenue between 21st and 23rd streets, cops said. Almonte drove around with the victim in the car for a few minutes before she was able to flee in the vicinity of Queens Plaza near Thompson Avenue and Van Dam Street.
Almonte then reportedly ditched the Mercedes and attempted to steal a white 2006 Ford Econoline van. When he was unsuccessful, the robber targeted a man with a gray 2007 Lexus. The suspect allegedly took out a gun and forcibly took the Lexus at approximately 10 a.m., cops said. The car was recovered a short time later.
Just a few minutes later, Almonte was apparently back on foot and he allegedly tried to forcibly remove car keys from a woman who was walking her dog. He fled after she told him she did not have any car keys.
Cops say that at approximately 10:20 a.m., the same suspect approached a truck driver near 38th Street and Hunters Point Avenue. Holding the victim at gunpoint, he took an unknown amount of cash and then fled on foot.
The spree ended about 10 minutes later when Almonte approached a man with a gold 1996 Mercedes at gunpoint and drove off in the victim’s car.
Almonte has been charged with multiple counts of robbery, attempted robbery and unlawful imprisonment.
