EXCLUSIVE
Two bungling thieves who attempted to steal boxing legend Jeff Fenech’s Mercedes have been convicted of a string of crimes, but could have met a far worse fate.
The pair’s inept attempt at taking Fenech’s luxury vehicle while he slept – after also snatching the keys to his wife’s Lexus and daughter’s Audi – was a debacle from start to finish.
Jerome Albert Hartnett, 29, and his mate Ethan Anthony Ballangarry, 20, were captured on CCTV as they broke into the four-time world champion’s home at Five Dock in Sydney’s inner west.
Once inside the house where Fenech, wife Suzee and daughter Kayla were sleeping, Hartnett and Ballangarry managed to miss the boxer’s Rolex watch which was near the car keys.
They then tried to use the key to Suzee’s Lexus to open Kayla’s $100,000 black Audi RS3 before turning their attention to Fenech’s $50,000 white Mercedes AMG C63.
On the morning of the botched burglary, Fenech described the incident to 2GB’s Ben Fordham, who suggested the incompetent intruders had been extremely lucky.
When Fordham wondered what might have befallen the then unnamed criminals if Fenech had caught them, the retired pugilist said he had discussed that with police.
Two thieves have been convicted of attempting to steal Jeff Fenech’s Mercedes. Ethan Ballangarry is shown on CCTV trying to open Fenech’s daughter’s Audi with the key to his wife’s Lexus while Jerome Hartnett watches on
Ethan Ballangarry and Jerome Hartnett Once broke into Fenech’s home at Five Dock while he and his family were sleeping then tried to steal his Mercedes AGM C63 (above)
‘I said, “Who knows what would have happened”,’ Fenech told Fordham. ‘I wouldn’t have been good, that’s for sure. It wouldn’t have been a good ending.’
The man known as the Marrickville Mauler nonetheless said learning his domestic sanctuary had been invaded by strangers in the dead of night was ‘scary and very terrifying’.
‘If I came down they were in trouble, brother,’ Fenech said later. ‘No-one comes into my house.
‘My wife and daughter are shaken. This all makes me feel sick. It’s frightening for my family, and me too. It’s not good. They are idiots.’
Hartnett, who also uses the surname Kelly, and Ballangarry – both from Marrickville – were filmed breaking into Fenech’s Mercedes then turning on the engine, but were disturbed by police.
Their capture soon afterwards brought an end to a four-hour suburban crime spree which had begun at nearby Wareemba about 11.50pm on December 4 last year.
Hartnett headed out that night wearing black track pants, a black Everlast hoodie over a khaki shirt, black gloves, black cap and a black and white bandana covering his face to just below the eyes.
Fenech told police he did not know what he would have done if he’d caught the thieves inside his home: ‘I wouldn’t have been good, that’s for sure. It wouldn’t have been a good ending’
Ballangarry had on a light grey tracksuit, black face covering, odd-coloured gloves and black sneakers.
Hartnett and an unidentified male were first captured on CCTV jumping a fence in Kirrang Street, Wareemba and walking along the fence to the back of a property.
Two neighbours spotted Hartnett, Ballangarry and their companion and one of them chased the unidentified male up the street.
The would-be thief got into a black Holden Cruze driven by a fourth man who accelerated the car at the neighbour, hitting him on the elbow as he used his phone to film the fleeing offenders.
At 12.31am, Hartnett and Ballangarry were again caught on CCTV entering the driveway of a house in McGrath Avenue, Five Dock, before quickly leaving.
At 3.18am, Hartnett was filmed smashing the front passenger window of an Audi A4 station wagon and removing items from the vehicle.
Hartnett and Ballangarry were then filmed looking through the items taken from the Audi and putting some of the goods in their pockets.
Their haul was a pair of Prada sunglasses worth $500, Hermes sandals valued at $2,600 and a pair of $5,700 Paspaley pearl earrings.
Hartnett and Ballangarry stole keys to the three Fenech vehicles then unsuccessfully tried to open daughter Kayla’s Audi, which was parked in the driveway, with the Lexus key
The pair walked up a side path, through a gate, and broke into the house through a laundry window while Fenech and his family were sleeping upstairs
Next stop was Fenech’s home, also in Five Dock, which Hartnett and Ballangarry were captured on CCTV approaching at 4am.
The pair walked up a side path, through a gate, and broke into the house through a laundry window while Fenech and his family were upstairs sleeping.
Hartnett and Ballangarry stole keys to the three Fenech vehicles from the dining room table then unsuccessfully tried to open Kayla’s Audi, which was parked in the driveway, with the Lexus key.
At 4.20am, the burglars were filmed breaking into Fenech’s Mercedes on the street outside his house, which is where they were seen by police.
Two officers chased down Hartnett and another two caught Ballangarry.
Another stupid – or brave – thief broke into Fenech’s home in remarkably similar circumstances and stole cash, credit cards, a camera and jewellery in June 2010.
On that occasion, Fenech, his wife and two daughters were asleep upstairs when a burglar slipped through the kitchen window about 3.30am.
That time the thief also missed out on $US5,000 and two watches worth $35,000.
‘My wife and daughter are shaken,’ Fenech said of the incident. ‘It’s frightening for my family, and me too, it’s not good. They are idiots.’ He is pictured with wife Suzee and daughter Kayla
Fenech is considered by most good judges to have been Australia’s greatest boxer, having won world titles in four weight divisions. He is pictured in his first fight with Azumah Nelson
Months earlier, some of Fenech’s boxing memorabilia had disappeared from the same house and been offered for sale in Kings Cross nightclubs.
Hartnett pleaded guilty in October to one count each of car theft, break and enter, damaging property and larceny, and two of entering land with intent to commit an indictable offence.
Ballangarry pleaded guilty to the same set of charges as well as having a knife in his custody.
On December 10 at Burwood Local Court, Hartnett was sentenced to an intensive correction order which will run for two years and eight months.
As part of that order Hartnett will have to complete 300 hours of community service.
Ballangarry was fined $1,400 and placed on a community correction order for the next 30 months.
Fenech is considered by most good judges to have been Australia’s greatest boxer, having won world titles in four weight divisions.
He held the IBF bantamweight belt from 1985 to 1987, the WBC super-bantamweight title from 1987 to 1988 and was WBC featherweight champion from 1988 to 1990.
The 60-year-old, who was trained by Johnny Lewis, retired in 1996 with a record of 28 wins (21 by knockout), three losses and one draw.
In 2022, Fenech was awarded the WBC super-featherweight title for 1991 after the sanctioning body declared his first controversially drawn bout against Azumah Nelson a win.
The 1984 Los Angeles Olympian was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2002 and went on to train former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson.
He returned to the ring in 2008 as a 44-year-old for a rematch with Ghanaian great Nelson, who had knocked him out in their second fight in 1992, with Fenech winning in a majority decision.
