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The incidents all occurred on Thursday, March 9, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer.
Charged with arson, robbery and weapons offenses was Ricardo Buitron, Billhimer said.
A man said the suspect attempted to rob him with scissors but that he was able to push him away near Lexington Avenue and Fourth Street in Lakewood.
The fires also were near Fourth Street but were quickly extinguished, Billhimer said.
The physical description given to police of the arson suspect matched that of the robbery suspect, the prosecutor said.
Through further investigation, Buitron was identified as the individual who committed both the robbery and the arsons. Billhimer said. A short time later, Buitron was apprehended by Lakewood Township Police officers near Third Street and Clifton Avenue.
Buitron was taken to the Ocean County Jail, where he was lodged pending a detention hearing.
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