Trial of alleged jewel thief Darren Hookey begins after incidents at Dulwich Hill, Merrylands, Pemulwuy, Seven Hills
A man accused of embarking on a four-day jewellery store heist, armed with a hammer, allegedly stole from one in Sydney’s inner west in a brazen lunchtime heist.
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A man accused of embarking on a four-day jewellery store heist, armed with a hammer, allegedly stole from one of the shops in Sydney’s inner west in a brazen lunchtime heist.
Darren Hookey, 37, is facing a judge-alone trial in Parramatta District Court, having pleaded not guilty to a string of charges including aggravated break and enter and committing serious indictable offence while armed.
The charges relate to incidents in which Hookey allegedly stole jewellery and cash at Dulwich Hill, Merrylands, Pemulwuy, Seven Hills and Blacktown between January 18 and 22 in 2022.
The Crown alleges Hookey sussed out Konstan Jewellers at Dulwich Hill a day before the shop was targeted about 1pm.
During CCTV footage played to the court, a man had a conversation with the Marrickville Rd shop’s owner through the bar windows. The owner mentioned he would close the shop early that week because business was “dead”.
Crown prosecutor Yvette Prowse alleged Hookey tried to sell his scooter to the owner before returning the next day.
Footage played to the court from January 18 showed two people pounding the front glass windows of Konstan Jewellers with a hammer before fleeing in a grey Honda Jazz.
The court heard the shop owner believed it was the same man he had spoken with a day earlier.
It is alleged one of the men wearing a grey hoodie and a red and black backpack – also found at Prouds the Jewellers – belonged to Hookey, and the hoodie was found in the Honda during his arrest at Toongabbie.
Witness accounts included those of a woman who described the men as African-American in appearance.
Hookey allegedly continued the crime spree at Prouds inside the Stockland Merrylands shopping mall on January 19.
A blood stain on the glass there was consistent with the accused’s DNA, the court heard.
A day later, Hookey allegedly stole from the shop with a hammer and is accused of using the same type of weapon at Mikasa Jewellers at Pemulwuy Marketplace.
The Crown alleges he undertook reconnaissance at Mikasa’s about 9am on January 20 and was carrying a Woolworths shopping bag while looking at the shop.
Hookey was allegedly one of two people who returned to the mall at 2am on January 21, smashed the shop glass with a hammer and stole jewellery before he returned at 5am to douse an unknown liquid in the store.
The Crown alleges it was to cover any trace of his footsteps.
On January 21, Hookey allegedly stole $14,000 from Hills Fruit World at Seven Hills Plaza after prosecutors claim he saw the collapsible fence as an easy target and raided the shop about 8pm.
Footage aired in court shows a man in the back office of the fruit shop wearing a green high-vis vest over an Everlast jumper Hookey was allegedly seen wearing the following day at Westpoint Blacktown.
Ms Prowse alleges Hookey pulled up to Westpoint in the Honda Jazz the next morning and bought clothes and shoes from Connor, JD Sports and Foot Locker using “a significant wad of cash”.
He was arrested the next day at Toongabbie in a Honda Jazz.
Police allegedly found jewellery from Prouds and Mikasa in the car along with a hammer and items from Hills Fruit World.
During his arraignment, Hookey also pleaded not guilty to two counts of breaking and entering at a house and stealing at a value of than less than $60,000, breaking and entering at a house and stealing at a value of more than $60,000, two counts of entering a building or land with intention to commit an indictable offence, and dealing with property that was the proceeds of crime in quantities valued at less than $100,000 and less than $5000.
Defence barrister Imogen Hogan declined to make opening submissions.
The trial before Judge Huw Baker continues.
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