Konstan Jewellers Dulwich Hill owner gives evidence in trial of Darren Hookey

An inner west jewellery shop owner “still in shock” over a bold daylight theft told a court he was “100 per cent” certain a man targeting the business tried to sell him watches a day earlier.

Konstan Jewellers is on Dulwich Hill’s main shopping strip. Picture: Google Maps

A Dulwich Hill jewellery shop owner “still in shock” over a brazen daylight theft two years ago has given evidence in the trial of an alleged armed thief.

Konstan Jewellers owner George Konstantinidis gave evidence in the trial of Darren Hookey, 37, at Parramatta District Court on Wednesday when he recalled the incident at his shop on January 18, 2022 about 1.30pm.

Along with the inner west incident, Hookey has pleaded not guilty to a string of charges including aggravated break and enter and committing a serious indictable offence while armed following jewellery shops thefts in western Sydney between January 18 and 22.

Mr Konstantinidis told the court he was “100 per cent” that a person who smashed windows during the incident was the same man who spoke to him a day before the incident.

Mr Konstantinidis told the court he was in his office in the Marrickville Rd shop when a loud sound made him jump off his chair and rush out to the front window display where he saw two people smashing the laminated glass.

“I thought it was thunder,’’ he said.

Darren Hookey is accused of breaking into jewellery shops including Prouds Merrylands. Picture: Aden Stokes

He told the court he believed the first person wielding a hammer was a woman but the second person was male, skinny, Aboriginal in appearance, sweaty, wearing a surgical mask and carried a lump hammer.

“That lump hammer was going like a machine gun,’’ he said.

“I’ve never seen anybody hit anything so fast.’’

Mr Konstantinidis tried to collect the trays of jewellery and raced to collect a “medieval” axe before he recognised the alleged offender was the same man who visited his shop a day earlier to try and sell him a scooter.

“I yelled out ‘I know who you are’,’’ Mr Konstantinidis said.

He alleged the man continued to kick and smash the window.

“He was kicking, he was bouncing off the glass,’’ Mr Konstantinidis said.

“I’m still in shock from it.

“It’s affected me a lot, just the way it happened.’’

Mr Konstantinidis told the court a “slurry” man asked him if he wanted to buy some watches and his black scooter on January 17, a proposal he rejected.

During footage played to the court from a police interview, he told police “I’m 100 per cent sure’’ it was the same man.

Police immediately responded to the incident.

When defence barrister Imogen Hogan asked the witness if time might have impaired his memory he responded “I doubt it’’.

Asked by the Crown if he had problems with his eyes before he undertook cataract surgery six weeks ago, he said just “a bit” because he had diabetes.

Body-worn footage of Hookey’s arrest at Bulli Rd, Toongabbie, on January 22 at 7.30pm was also played to the court when police seized heroin and meth, a Prouds ring box, a ring, a long hammer, white NAB cap, black face mask, white gloves and scissors.

Police also seized bags from JD Sports and Foot Locker at Westpoint Blacktown – where Hookey allegedly spent the proceeds of crime.

Hookey allegedly spent proceeds of crime at shops including Foot Locker at Westpoint Blacktown.

A Coles high-vis vest allegedly used in a break-and-enter at Hills Fruit World at Seven Hills, where Hookey is accused of stealing $14,000 a day before his arrest, was also seized in the grey Holden Jazz.

The car was allegedly used in the theft at Dulwich Hill, Prouds the Jewellers at Merrylands and Mikasa Jewellers at Pemulwuy Marketplace.

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.

The judge-only trial continues.