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.
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.
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