“I don’t have to tell you a reason to get out,” the officer shouts as a routine traffic stop in Millburn, New Jersey, turns into a high-stakes felony bust.
The Short Hills Mall Shoplifting Arrest of Iman Barnes and Nicole Goshay didn’t start with a high-speed chase. It started with a broken brake light and a secret stash of high-end designer sunglasses hidden beneath clothing. What looked like a simple car stop on JFK Parkway quickly spiraled into a deep investigation involving thousands of dollars in stolen luxury goods from Bloomingdale’s.
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Watch: Short Hills Mall Shoplifting Arrest Caught on Camera
Note: Pay close attention to the timestamp at 00:09:00 where the officer begins reading the suspects their Miranda rights after noticing tags still attached to the merchandise.
Full Story: How the Incident Unfolded
On May 30, 2024, Millburn police received intelligence that a white Mercedes-Benz GLA operated by Iman Barnes was in the area. Barnes was wanted on an outstanding NCIC warrant out of Orange, NJ. Officer Reid spotted the vehicle in the Short Hills Mall “E” parking lot and initiated a stop on JFK Parkway South.
Inside the car, the tension was immediate. The driver, Iman Barnes, and her passenger, Nicole Goshay, were asked to step out of the vehicle. While the suspects initially claimed they were just looking for “shades for a nephew” and didn’t buy anything, the officers noticed something suspicious.
“What are those sunglasses that you’re putting up there?” an officer asks in the bodycam footage.
As the stop progressed, the Bloomingdale’s loss prevention team reported a shoplifting incident involving two women. Loss Prevention Officer Jeremy Cruz confirmed that two females had concealed three pairs of sunglasses and walked out of the store without paying.
Officer Kostovski performed a “show up” identification. Mr. Cruz sat in the back of a patrol car and positively identified both Barnes and Goshay as the shoplifters.
The situation escalated when a search by a female officer from Springfield PD revealed the true extent of the theft. Hidden on their persons were multiple pairs of Chanel and Burberry sunglasses, many with the security sensors and price tags still attached.
High-End Haul: The Stolen Inventory
The sheer value of the items recovered during the Short Hills Mall Shoplifting Arrest was staggering. The suspects didn’t just take one pair; they had cleared out a significant portion of the display.
| Item Quantity | Brand/Description | Serial Number (Sample) | Value |
| 1 | Burberry Sunglasses | 8056262081754 | $335.00 |
| 1 | Chanel Sunglasses | 8059820796374 | $530.00 |
| 1 | Burberry Sunglasses | 8056597951012 | $770.00 |
| Multiple | Nike/Polo Clothing | Various | $2,595.50 (Total Property) |
In total, police recovered over $2,500 worth of clothing and accessories. Officers also found “Dewalt sheers” in the vehicle, which are commonly used as burglary tools to remove security tags.
The Arrest: Charges Against Barnes and Goshay
Both women were taken into custody and transported to Millburn Police Headquarters.
| Charge | Simple Explanation | Potential Penalty (NJ) |
| Shoplifting by Concealment | Purposely hiding store items to steal them. | Up to 5-10 years (if 2nd degree) |
| Receiving Stolen Property | Having items known to be stolen. | Fines and potential jail time |
| Conspiracy | Planning with another person to commit a crime. | Varies by underlying crime |
| Possession of Burglary Tools | Carrying tools (sheers) to commit a theft. | Up to 18 months in prison |
Legal Analysis: Was the Shoplifting Stop Justified?
As a legal expert reviewing the Short Hills Mall Shoplifting Arrest, the police followed strict protocol.
Fourth Amendment Check: The initial stop was justified by two factors: a broken brake light (equipment violation) and a confirmed NCIC warrant for the vehicle’s owner. Under US law, police have the right to order occupants out of a vehicle during a lawful stop for officer safety.
Search Protocol: The search of the suspects’ persons was conducted by a female officer, Danielle Kahora, which follows standard police procedure for searching female suspects. The “show up” identification by the witness Jeremy Cruz provided the necessary probable cause for the subsequent arrest and full search.
[Read more Evidence Decode investigations here]
5 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) connected to the charges in this case, focusing on the legal and procedural aspects mentioned in the reports:
Can a simple traffic violation like a broken brake light lead to a full vehicle search?
While a broken brake light is a minor equipment violation, it provides “reasonable suspicion” for a stop. If during that stop, officers discover outstanding warrants `or see incriminating evidence in plain view—such as merchandise with security tags still attached—it can establish the probable cause needed for a more extensive search and arrest.
What are “Burglary Tools” in the context of a shoplifting charge?
In many jurisdictions, including New Jersey, “burglary tools” aren’t just for breaking into buildings. They include any instrument used to facilitate a theft, such as the Dewalt sheers found in this case. These are often used by shoplifters to cut off plastic security sensors or heavy-duty tags to prevent store alarms from sounding.
What is a “Show Up” identification and is it legally valid?
A “show up” is a procedure where a witness, like the loss prevention officer in this report, is shown a suspect shortly after a crime has occurred to confirm their identity. While it is more suggestive than a traditional lineup, it is legally valid if conducted promptly near the scene of the crime to help police determine if they have the correct individuals in custody.
Can you be charged with “Conspiracy” if you didn’t personally conceal the items?
Yes. Under conspiracy and accomplice liability laws, if two or more people work together to commit a theft, all parties can be charged even if only one person physically hid the merchandise. In this incident, police used CCTV to observe both women selecting and concealing items as part of a coordinated effort.
What happens if a suspect is arrested but has warrants in a different city?
When a suspect is taken into custody, police run their information through a national database (NCIC). If there are “outstanding warrants” from another jurisdiction, the arresting agency will process their current local charges first and then “extradite” or transfer the suspect to the other department to face those prior crimes.
Conclusion & Current Status
Following the Short Hills Mall Shoplifting Arrest, both Iman Barnes and Nicole Goshay were given court dates for June 6, 2024, at the Essex County Superior Court.
However, their legal troubles didn’t end in Millburn. After being processed, both women were turned over to the Orange Police Department detectives to face outstanding warrants for prior crimes in that jurisdiction.
Download Police Report click here.
Disclaimer: All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This report is based on official police records from the Millburn Police Department.
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A female cop searching a female suspect is a ‘courtesy’, not a right/law. Hundreds of women get searched by male cops every day. Criminals need to be straightened out on the law.