Man Set Fire To 2 Abandoned Homes In Hazlet, Prosecutor Says

HAZLET, NJ — A local Hazlet man is behind a string of arsons at two abandoned homes in town, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago and Hazlet Police Chief Robert Mulligan jointly announced Monday.

Albert Caporaso, 49, of Hazlet is charged with seven counts of second-degree aggravated arson, plus criminal mischief and resisting arrest.

Police say he set fire to two abandoned homes on South Laurel Avenue in Hazlet, with the first fire starting on December 2, 2023.

Police say he kept returning to the same two lots — which each had an abandoned home on it — and set fires to the same two empty buildings, plus a shed.

A string of subsequent fires at those lots have been reported over the past four months.

Caporaso was identified by Hazlet Police as a suspect in the case. Last Thursday night, April 25, while conducting surveillance in the area, members of the Hazlet Police Department spotted Caporaso attempting to set fire to the storage shed on one of the properties, said the prosecutor.

Police took him into custody. His first court appearance is this Wednesday, May 1.

Anyone with additional information about Caporaso’s activities is urged to contact MCPO Detective Michael Donovan III at 800-533-7443 or Hazlet Police Department Detective Russell Surdi at 732-264-0763.

This case is being prosecuted by Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Michael Luciano of the MCPO Major Crimes Bureau.

This case was investigated by officers with the Monmouth County Fire Marshal’s Office, detectives with the county prosecutor and Hazlet Police.