Two Virginia residents face multiple felony charges following their arrest in connection with an attempted armed home invasion in Marlboro Township, Monmouth County authorities announced yesterday. Acori Knox, 21, of Hampton, Virginia and Lauren McNeil, 24, of Newport News, Virginia were apprehended after allegedly attempting to break into a residence while armed with an AK-47 style rifle, according to investigators who described the incident as a carefully planned operation targeting a specific household.
The suspects were taken into custody in Newport News, Virginia on Wednesday and are awaiting extradition to New Jersey for arraignment in Monmouth County Superior Court, according to WOBM .
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Elaborate Planning and Surveillance Preceded Attempt
Investigators revealed the suspects conducted extensive surveillance of the targeted property for several weeks prior to the attempted break-in. Digital evidence recovered during the investigation showed the pair had mapped out security camera locations, documented the homeowners’ routines, and planned multiple potential entry points to the residence.
“This wasn’t a random crime of opportunity, but rather a meticulously planned operation,” stated Monmouth County Acting Prosecutor Raymond Santiago. “The level of preparation suggests the suspects specifically targeted this household and had clear intentions of committing a serious armed robbery,” Santiago noted in materials provided during a press briefing at the Prosecutor’s Office in Freehold.
Homeowner Alert System Prevented Tragedy
The attempt was thwarted when the homeowners’ security system detected movement at the property’s rear patio door around 5:30 a.m. on September 24. The system immediately alerted both the homeowners and law enforcement, causing the suspects to flee before gaining entry to the main living areas of the home. Police arrived within minutes but the suspects had already departed the scene…