Crime & Safety

Crab Trap Burglaries Solved, Suspect Arrested

Lawrence Township police allege suspect William Clayborn tried to break into the seafood market early Thursday morning and also broke into the same business on Feb. 27 and March 1.

Update, March 12:

Ewing Township Police Lt. Rocco Maruca said Clayborn has been charged by Ewing police with: burglary and theft in connection with a Feb. 19 break-in at Kicks USA; burglary in connection with a Feb. 25 break-in at Landmark Wine and Spirits; and burglary in connection with a Feb. 29 break-in at the Bike Exchange. All three businesses are located in the 1500 block of North Olden Avenue.

 

Find out what's happening in Lawrencevillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Editor's Note: The original story, as published at 4:30 p.m. March 9, apprears below.

A man who allegedly tried to break into the early Thursday (March 8) has been charged by Lawrence Township police in connection with that crime and with the two other burglaries that took place at Crab Trap in the last two weeks.

Find out what's happening in Lawrencevillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

William Clayborn, 38, of Fountain Avenue, Trenton, is also a suspect in several recent burglaries in Ewing, police said.

Lawrence Township police spokesman Lt. Charles Edgar said officers were on patrol near the seafood market in the 1600 block of Princeton Avenue when they heard what sounded like a burglar alarm going off about 2:25 a.m. Thursday.

Going to investigate, Officer Daniel Gladney spotted Clayborn in the area of the Crab Trap, Edgar said. He said Gladney ordered Clayborn to stop so that he could be questioned, but Clayborn allegedly refused to cooperate and kept walking away.

Edgar said Gladney caught up with Clayborn and took him into custody on a charge of obstructing the administration of law for his allegedly not stopping when ordered to do so.

Subsequent investigation revealed that the alarm was coming from the Crab Trap and that Clayborn had allegedly tried to break in, Edgar said. He said Clayborn was charged with attempted burglary and possession of a burglary tool, in addition to the obstruction charge.

Edgar said additional investigation by Lawrence Township police led to them charging Clayborn with burglary and theft in connection with the burglaries that occurred at the Crab Trap on and . During both break-ins, the front door was broken open and “small food items” such as bags of potato chips were stolen.

Ewing Township police told Lawrence authorities that they plan to charge Clayborn a suspect with several recent burglaries in their jurisdiction, Edgar said.

Clayborn was being held today at the Mercer County Correction Center in Hopewell Township.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.