April 6, 2021

HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–On April 6, 2021 at approximately 1:58 AM, Officer Jordan Kostoplis was in the area of Sylvan Avenue and Graffam Avenue when he heard a loud power tool coming from the parking lot of Marrazzo’s Auto Service.  He also saw a white Acura idling on Sylvan Avenue behind the business with its lights off.  He then observed the white vehicle leave the area and enter the parking lot of the Exxon on South Olden Avenue.  The vehicle then returned to Sylvan Avenue and again stopped behind Marrazzo’s.  The vehicle then backed up towards the Officer’s vehicle and he observed two males hop the fence from Marrazzo’s and enter the white vehicle which left the scene.  Responding Officers stopped the vehicle on South Olden Avenue and located a Milwaukee battery powered saw in plain view on the backseat.  Further investigation revealed the males that entered the vehicle had attempted to cut off a catalytic converter from a van parked in Marrazzo’s lot.  All three occupants were placed under arrest.

The driver of the vehicle was identified as Lizbeth Crespo, 26, of Trenton.  The males were identified as Xavier Zayas, 38, of Trenton and Rafael Laureanofuentes, 23, of Trenton.  All three were charged with Burglary, Criminal Attempt Theft, Criminal Mischief, and Possession of Burglar’s Tools.  Zayas was also charged with Possession of Suboxone and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  Laureanofuentes was also charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Anyone with any information regarding this incident is asked to contact Detective Pat Quick of the Hamilton Police Division’s Criminal Investigations Section at 609-581-4111 or the Hamilton Police Crime Tip Hotline at 609-581-4008.

Despite having been charged, every defendant is presumed innocent until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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