Some 1800 samples were taken, Cooper said at the time.
Today, the 42-year-old man and two of his co-accused appeared in the Auckland District Court before Judge Eddie Paul.
He pleaded guilty to three charges, including burglary and a representative charge of obtaining by deception, but still cannot be named after his lawyer Katrina Hamblin sought continued name suppression.
Judge Paul is set to deliver his decision on name suppression for the man and a 45-year-old cake decorator.
The cake retailer and a florist, who can now be named as Andrea Nicole Edwards after suppression lapsed, continue to deny their charges and are due to stand trial next year.
Edwards (46) and the cake decorator face a charge each of receiving stolen property.
The man, who earlier argued for suppression because he was “well-known” in the TV industry, is due to be sentenced in late September.
Speaking to The New Zealand Herald after the break-in, Cooper said access was gained into the styling room through a vent in an electrical room.
The arrests of the trio came after police conducted a search of a property in central Auckland in November last year.
During the search, police said they recovered “a significant amount” of the clothing which was returned to Cooper. However, in March this year the court heard that about three-quarters of the missing clothing was still unaccounted for.
Cooper said 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.
The building was alarmed and monitored by security guards but did not have CCTV, which Cooper said were being installed after the crime.
A fourth person, a 26-year-old woman, was charged in May with allegedly receiving stolen Trelise Cooper-branded clothing.
The court heard today that social media rumours and gossip of “an inside job” were false.
