A mugging victim was so bent on getting back his stolen cash that he chased the thief across the West Village — including a half-mile through a subway tunnel, authorities said.
Joseph McMaster, 52, finally caught up to career criminal Jeff Hamm, 54, outside the Christopher Street station on the No. 1 line after a sprint up the tracks from West Houston Street around 7:30 a.m. on Feb. 9, sources said.
The wild chase began when Hamm allegedly snatched $94 in cash and a Bic lighter from McMaster’s hand near the corner of Sixth Avenue and West Fourth Street and ran off.
McMaster followed him five blocks and into the 1 train station at West Houston.
When they got above ground at Christopher Street, Hamm tried to hail a cab, but McMaster held him.
Hamm, who has been arrested more than 60 times since 1983, was charged with robbery, criminal possession of stolen property and trespassing. He was also slapped with drug charges after cops found marijuana and cocaine.