A West Side car dealership might decide to reverse its policy on test drives after the harrowing experience one of its employees went through yesterday.
Hayet Adhanom, 26, of Lexington, Mass., posing as an interested customer, took a Nissan Murano from the Potamkin lot at 50th Street and 11th Avenue for a spin – then pushed the salesman escorting him out of the car along the way, cops said.
Adhanom was somehow able to open the passenger door and push the victim onto the street – apparently thinking he’d just gotten away with the easiest “grand theft auto” ever, according to the sources.
But his glee must have turned to chagrin when he realized that he had left a copy of his driver’s license at the dealership.
Adhanom brought the car back and gave some excuse for the salesman not being with him.
While he was arguing to get the copy of his license back, the salesman called back to the dealership and reported what happened, authorities said.
Police were called and Adhanom was arrested a block away as he allegedly tried to flee on foot.
He was charged with robbery, criminal possession of stolen property and pot possession.