Two brazen thieves who tied up a young couple in a Throggs Neck apartment surrendered to a police hostage negotiator after an hour and a half standoff that began late on Friday, July 23.
The house invaders were in search of cash, and managed to pocket more than $2,000 after wielding two silver 9mm guns, one of which was loaded with 14 bullets, and tying up their victims the police report. It is not clear whether the couple were the robbers only victims that night. A police investigation is ongoing.
Esteban Torres, 33, and Luciano Lopez, 39, were both arrested and charged with robbery, burglary, criminal possession of a weapon, criminal trespassing, and other felonies and misdemeanors after breaking into the apartment belonging to Andrew Monaco, 21, and Christina DiMarco, 20, just after 11 a.m. on Friday, July 23.
Monaco and DiMarco live in the basement.
Torres and Lopez allegedly burst into the apartment after they broke down the door with an unknown object. They forced Monaco and DiMarco to the ground, holding guns to both of their heads at different points and restrained the victim’s hands with zip ties, according to a police report.
Before being tied up, DiMarco apparently was able to make a phone call or text to her father telling him that they were being robbed.
Her father called 911 and police from the 45th Precinct arrived on the scene shortly after the call, along with a hostage negotiator.
According to the complaint report, DiMarco was told by Torres and Lopez: “We know where both of your parents live. Your mother and your father. If you tell the police, we are going to come back for you.”
Torres and Lopez plundered cash from a dresser and a box underneath a bed. When collared, police found a total of $1,909 on Torres in three different pants pockets. Lopez had $752.
Police on the scene reported that Torres and Lopez ignored verbal commands to come out of the apartment before finally surrendering after midnight on Saturday, July 24.
One of the guns came from the suspects as they left the apartment, and another was left underneath a bed frame inside the apartment. The handgun found under the bed was loaded with 14 bullets.
It is not clear whether the defendants knew either of the suspects in the robbery attempt, but as of press time police have not released any information revealing that there was a link between the defendants and the victims.
According to a neighbor, he has seen the young couple leaving during the day, presumably to work or attend school, and then return home. He said they are relatively new to the building, which is on Bruckner Boulevard between Quincy and Calhoun avenues.
Both Torres and Lopez have criminal histories. Torres was convicted of robbery in 2001, while Lopez was convicted of third-degree assault in 1993.
Both suspects were indicted in Bronx Supreme Court on Saturday, July 24 and remanded to jail.
They are due back in court on July 29.
