When Carol Shaya - who was fired by the New York Police Department last week for posing nude in Playboy - witnessed an attempted robbery in a trendy eatery, she took quick action.

Shaya helped disarm a knifewielding bandit before police officers arrived to make an arrest Wednesday night, said Rocco Ancarola, the restaurant’s owner. The man had tried to steal $50 off the bar.

Police officials had scoffed that Shaya, 25, made only a handful of arrests during her four years on the force.