Knife-wielding Scrooge tries to rob elderly Catholic deacon at NYC church door days before Christmas: ‘I want the money’

A Scrooge tried to rob an elderly Catholic deacon at knifepoint – demanding “I want the money” – in a brazen Queens stick-up moments before Sunday Mass this week, authorities and sources said.

Miguel Bonano, 64, knocked on the door of St. Gertrude Church in Far Rockaway as congregants were gathered inside around [9:30 a.m. just four days before Christmas, cops and law enforcement sources said. 

“I want the money,” he allegedly snarled, pointing a knife at the 78-year-old deacon when he came to the door, court documents said.

But the quick-thinking senior slammed the door on the armed menace before the brute could get away with any cash, police said.

Miguel Bonano, 64, allegedly pointed a knife at the 78-year-old deacon as he demanded money inside St. Gertrude Church in Far Rockaway, cops and sources said.  Gregory P. Mango

Bonano – who lives in a homeless shelter about a half-mile from the church – was still around the house of worship on Beach 38th Street near Beach Channel Drive when cops arrived, police said.

“I took out a knife and I tried to rob the guy,” he allegedly admitted to cops after being taken into custody, according to a criminal complaint.

The blade was recovered from his jacket pocket, the filing said.

Bonano was arrested at the scene and allegedly admitted to cops, “I took out a knife and I tried to rob the guy,” according to a criminal complaint. Gregory P. Mango

Bonano was charged with attempted robbery and criminal possession of a weapon, Queens prosecutors said. 

He was ordered held on $10,000 cash bail or $20,000 bond during his arraignment before Judge Lana Schlesinger in Queens Criminal Court.

Bonano has 21 prior arrests dating back nearly four decades – but hasn’t landed in cuffs since 2002 when he was nabbed for drug possession, police said. 

His first arrest dates back to1987, when he allegedly tampered with a subway turnstile and was found with five tokens, four glass pipes and another person’s bank card, cops said. 

He has also been arrested for robbery, trespass, grand larceny and possession of burglar’s tools, police said. 

Bonano is set to appear in court next on Friday in connection to the knifepoint stick-up of the deacon, according to the DA’s office.