TV worker denies Cooper burglary
Two women, man charged in $500k case
A“well-known” TV industry worker has pleaded not guilty over the $500,000 burglary at top fashion designer Dame Trelise Cooper’s styling room in Auckland.
The 41-year-old man is one of three people charged over the break-in at Cooper’s head office in Newmarket during October.
The two others are a 45-year-old woman, described as a florist in charging documents, and 44-year-old woman who is linked to the cake retailing business.
Both are accused of receiving stolen “Trelise Cooper branded clothing”, court papers said.
During a brief hearing in Auckland District Court, the accused man pleaded not guilty to burglary and two charges of obtaining by deception.
His lawyer, David Dickinson, also successfully argued for his client to maintain interim name suppression.
Parts of the man’s affidavit in support of his suppression bid, which was read to the court by Judge David Sharp, said the accused was wellknown in the Auckland television industry and publicity could severely compromise his business.
The court heard publishing the man’s name could also lead to the identification of the other defendants, who have interim name suppression, and continued publicity surrounding the case could prejudice his fair trial rights.
The man was remanded on bail and will next appear in court alongside the two women in March. His arrest came after police conducted a search of a property in central Auckland last month, where police said they recovered “a
One lonely hanger . . . Along with a number of our unique couture pieces. 1800 samples gone.
Dame Trelise Cooper
significant amount” of the clothing, which was to be returned to Cooper.
Cooper said she was devastated after discovering about $500,000 worth of high-end clothing had been stolen on October 17.
The designer said on social media that her entire 2021 spring and summer samples were gone, leaving only “one lonely hanger”.
“Along with a number of our unique couture pieces. 1800 samples gone.”
Speaking to the Herald after the break-in, Cooper said the thief or thieves broke into the styling room through a vent in an electrical room.
“I feel violated. I feel bad for my staff. We have kind of taken it as a kick in the guts.”
It was the first time her head office had been burgled in 25 years, although someone unsuccessfully tried to break into the building 14 years ago, Cooper said.
The building was alarmed and monitored by security guards but did not have CCTV.
Cooper, whose designs have been worn by international celebrities, said she was now getting security cameras installed.