A heartless mugger violently knocked a 96-year-old man to the ground before snatching $5 right out of his hand inside a Queens elevator, police said.

The elderly victim was ambushed inside a Woodside elevator, where he lives, at 3:30 p.m. Thursday.

The thug, who is about half his age, first asked the victim for some money, police sources said.

The senior citizen reached into his pocket, pulled out $5 and was about to hand it to him, but the desperate thug yanked the bill away and shoved him to the ground. The suspect then fled in an unknown direction.

Luckily, the victim escaped serious injury.

Cops released photos of the suspect, who was caught on surveillance camera, and are asking anyone who recognizes the perpetrator, described as five-foot-four, and wearing all black, to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.