18-Year-Olds Charged In Robbery Attempt On 16-Year-Old In Brick

BRICK, NJ — Two 18-year-olds have been charged with robbery after a Brick Township homeowner broke up an attempted robbery of a 16-year-old on Thursday, Brick police said Friday.

David M. Lavroff, 18, of Toms River, and James K. Clark, 18, of Brick, are being held inthe Ocean County Jail awaiting detention hearings. Lavroff has been charged with robbery, unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and Clark has been charged with robbery, Brick Sgt. Jim Kelly said.

A Wilson Court homeowner told called police shortly after 4 p.m. Thursday and reported confronting a male — later identified as Lavroff — who was trying to get into the house. Lavroff was wearing a ski mask and was armed with a handgun, Kelly said.

After the homeowner confronted him, Lavroff ran to a waiting vehicle and got in the passenger side and the vehicle took off. The homeowner was able to give police a detailed description of the vehicle. Police learned a 16-year-old who was leaving the house was the intended robbery target, Kelly said.

Police were able to find the vehicle at a home in Point Pleasant, but there was no sign of the driver or passenger. However, with the help of Point Pleasant officers, Brick detectives and the police department's Street Crimes Unit were able to identify and arrest Lavroff and Clark.

In addition to the charges filed against the two, police seized Clark's vehicle.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Brian Farnkopf at 732-262-4611 or Detective Michael Bennett at 732-262-1122.

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