5 people, including 4 teens, charged with car theft in Essex County, NJ

Five people, including four teenagers, have been charged for allegedly stealing a car during a home burglary in North Jersey.

State troopers say at about 2:00 on Tuesday afternoon, April 9th, members of the NJSP Motor Vehicle Crimes North Unit, as part of an auto theft task force, were alerted to a black 2023 Audi SQ8 that had been stolen from Montclair during a home burglary earlier that day.

That vehicle was observed traveling through Newark before entering the New Jersey Turnpike and then stopping at the Vince Lombardi Service Area in Ridgefield Borough.

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Five occupants got out of the car and went into the service plaza building where detectives took them into custody.

• 21-year-old Najee A. Jenkins of Newark
• 19-year-old Nazir Moses of Irvington
• A 17-year-old male from Newark
• Two 16-year-old males from Newark

All five were charged with the following:

• Second-degree receiving stolen motor vehicle
• Second-degree conspiracy to receive stolen motor vehicle
• Fourth-degree resisting arrest by flight

Jenkins and Moses were lodged in the Bergen County Jail pending a detention hearing.

The three juveniles were lodged in the Bergen County Juvenile Detention Center.

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Don't Be the Next NJ Car Theft Victim

The New Jersey State Police Auto Theft Task Force would like to provide the following tips to minimize the chance of becoming a victim:

• Have a home alarm system that is armed and monitored
• Do not leave keys in your vehicles
• Do not leave vehicle keys near the entry doors of your residence