Metro

Police nab fiend who allegedly beat elderly man and stole his bible

Police have nabbed the unholy fiend who beat up an elderly Manhattan man and stole his Bible, authorities said this morning.

Francisco Flores, 40, was collared for allegedly following Ricardo Velez, 92, into his Chelsea home on Monday night, pushing him to the ground, and taking off with the leather-bound Holy Book, bag, and bifocals.

Velez suffered a broken hip during the vicious assault, and has been recovering at Bellevue Hospital. His neighbor initially came to his aide and called 911– after his French poodle started barking, leading him to Velez.

Flores, a Chelsea man who lives near the victim on 16th Street, was charged with second-degree robbery and criminal possession of stolen property.