A man wielding a knife was apprehended this week after allegedly attempting to abduct a two-year-old girl in Queens, New York. The suspect, identified as 32-year-old Peter Vonderhofen, reportedly threatened the child’s mother, demanding she hand over her child or face being stabbed. The incident occurred around 3 p.m. on Thursday near Atlantic Avenue and 109th Street in South Richmond Hill.
Vonderhofen, who was on a bicycle at the time of the incident, fled the scene after making the threat. The mother and her child were unharmed. Police were able to apprehend Vonderhofen approximately half an hour later.
Upon his arrest, investigators connected Vonderhofen to two armed robberies that had occurred in the same vicinity less than a day apart the previous week. In both instances, the suspect allegedly brandished a knife to intimidate his victims.
The first robbery took place on October 2, around 9:45 p.m. Vonderhofen is accused of stealing a 44-year-old woman’s purse at knifepoint, taking all the items inside. The following day, at approximately 8:35 p.m., he allegedly accosted a 49-year-old man from behind, stealing his cell phone while brandishing his knife.
Vonderhofen now faces multiple charges in connection with these incidents. He has been charged with first-degree robbery for each of the two robberies. Additionally, he has been charged with second-degree attempted kidnapping, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, acting in a manner injurious to a child under 17, and second-degree menacing.