Shoplifter Had $7K in Counterfeit Cash, Cops Say

A Newark man was found with $7,000 in counterfeit cash when he was arrested for shoplifting Tuesday at The Mall at Short Hills, Millburn Police said.

According to Capt. Michael Palardy, Martin Coleman, 26, of Newark, was charged with shoplifting from Louis Vuitton at about 1:45 p.m. Tuesday. 

Store employees said Coleman switched a pair of Louis Vuitton sunglasses with a cheaper pair and left the store with the $620 glasses in his shopping bag, police said.

Coleman said he did not have the the sunglasses, police said.

After police watched the video surveillance in the store, Coleman was arrested, according to the report. Officers searched Coleman and found the stolen sunglasses and four cash rolls totaling $7,000 in a bank envelop, police said.

When asked why he was carrying so much cash, Coleman said, "I was gonna buy my girl a watch," police said.

According to Palardy, police determined the cash was counterfeit when Coleman was later processed at the Millburn Police Headquarters. 

Coleman was released with a summons for June 13 in Central Judicial Processing Court in Newark.