Police: Prom Dress Store Owner Faked Theft

The owner of the store, who had claimed 40 dresses valued at $20,000 had been stolen from her store, was issued a summons Tuesday for filing a false police report, said.

Patricia Dowling is scheduled to appear in Wayne Municipal Court on June 7, said Detective Capt. James Clarke.

Dowling faces a maximum penalty of six months in jail and up to a $1,000 fine if found guilty, Clarke said.

Dowling could not be reached for comment at the store.

Wayne police issued the summons after they removing 40 dresses off a rack herself. The video shows Dowling placing the dresses in a storage room, police said. Dowling originally were stolen sometime between 9 p.m. on May 15 and 2:20 p.m. on May 16. 

Dowling told police that the rear door of the facility was not secured and that the cameras at the business do not record anything.

NorthJersey.com reported Tuesday that a number of customers contacted police in recent weeks to complain that the store did not send them their dresses despite being paid for them.

Police said that a number of people have received the dresses they purchased from the store this week. 

The store received an “F” grade with the Better Business Bureau due to “problems with product/service.” 

The store bills itself as carrying several high-end, name-brand prom dresses, including Jovani, Tiffany and WOW Prom.