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Cabbie Busted for Swiping Two iPads After Fare Fight, Cops Say

 Yellow cab
Yellow cab
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DNAinfo/Paul Lomax

LOWER MANHATTAN — A city cab driver was arrested Saturday after he allegedly swiped two iPads from a passenger when a heated fight broke out over the fare for a drive from Midtown to the Staten Island Ferry Terminal, officials said.

The 44-year-old customer told police that when the taxi arrived at the ferry terminal, she hopped out, holding her two iPads, as she and the driver, Nasser Amadou, were arguing over the fare, according to police reports. She asked him to wait for her husband to arrive in an approaching cab, so they could compare rates, police said.

But Amadou, 27, who had also exited the cab, allegedly yelled and pushed the woman, before grabbing one of her iPads and running back toward his cab, according to the criminal complaint.  The woman then chased him down, and even hit him, but Amadou managed to snatch the other iPad from her hand before speeding off, police and the criminal complaint said.

 A cab driver recently stole two iPads from a woman he was driving in Lower Manhattan, according to police and the criminal complaint.
A cab driver recently stole two iPads from a woman he was driving in Lower Manhattan, according to police and the criminal complaint.
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Marcio Jose Sanchez

Amadou’s next stop: the West Village’s 6th Precinct. The alleged thief drove himself there right after the fight and told police the woman had refused to pay up — but he arrived with only one iPad, police said.

Cops from the 1st Precinct made the arrest.

Amadou is charged with third degree robbery and fifth degree criminal possession of stolen property.

He is due back in court June 24, prosecutors said. If convicted, Amadou faces a maximum sentence of seven years in prison.

His lawyer could not immediately be reached for comment.

Other notable crimes in this week's NYPD blotter in the 1st Precinct include:

► A 24-year-old woman had her $4,800 black Chanel purse stolen after she left it on a couch at the swanky new SoHo lesbian bar The Dalloway, at 525 Broome St., on March 7, police said. The purse was lifted when she stepped away to go to the bathroom, police said. Along with the pricey handbag, the victim lost a $1,500 Louis Vuitton wallet, a $1,800 vintage Gucci watch, $350 Prada sunglasses, $300 Les Copains lambskin gloves, $200 Laura Mercie makeup, $3,000 in cash and $1,000 in Euros, police said.

► A thief pried open an ATM machine outside of SoHo burger joint Kool Bloo at 117 Sixth Ave. on Wednesday night, stealing $3,980, police said.

► A 28-year-old woman had her iPad 2 and her wallet, which contained four credit cards, stolen as she ate with two friends at Chipotle at 111 Fulton St., police said. The woman told police that she noticed her bag, which she had placed at her feet, was missing after she finished her meal on March 20, about 3:30 p.m. When she turned around, she saw her handbag on the ground, but her wallet and iPad were gone.

► A 44-year-old man had his car, a 2012 Ford Exposition, stolen on March 17, police said. The man told police he parked the car on the street at 195 Spring St., went shopping, came back and placed some bags inside, then continued shopping. When he returned to his car a second time, the vehicle was gone.