A thief who is now in police custody was chauffeured around the Big Apple in a livery cab for nearly three hours — then ripped off the hack and fled, cops said.
The suspect hailed the cab on Lenox Avenue near West 116th Street around 12:30 a.m., according to police.
He drove around the city until 3:15 a.m., when the suspect asked to be dropped off at West 81st Street and Riverside Drive, cops said.
The joyride was just under three hours long and racked up a $120 fare, the sources said.
That’s when the suspect told the driver he would give him two $100 bills but wanted the change up front. He promised the cabbie a $40 tip, the sources said.
The dimwitted driver forked over $40 and the suspect fled with the money. That’s when the driver dialed 911.
Cops caught the suspect at West 82nd Street and Broadway. He was taken into custody and charges are pending.