Port Authority and NYPD cops doing a security check on Friday for the upcoming papal visit to the World Trade Center busted a mugging suspect attempting to swipe a cellphone from a Wisconsin tourist.

PAPD Inspector Ron Shindel, PAPD Lt. Scot Pomerantz and NYPD Lt. Jason Lundsford spotted Lucious Lieneke, 41, struggling with his would-be victim, a high-school track coach, who broke away and ran into the 9/11 Museum.

The lawmen busted Lieneke, of Michigan, and charged him with resisting arrest and attempted robbery. They took him to Bellevue for a psych exam after he began ranting and spitting at them.