An individual has been charged by Australian authorities for allegedly stealing over A$600,000 (approximately $393,500; £309,000) in limited-edition coins inspired by the popular children’s television series Bluey.
According to police reports, a theft involving 64,000 unreleased $1 Bluey coins was reported last month. These coins were said to be taken from a warehouse in Western Sydney, where the suspect was employed. Officers indicated that these coins, scheduled to enter public circulation next month, are currently being sold for ten times their face value.
On Wednesday, authorities arrested 47-year-old Steven John Neilson following a raid at a residence in Sydney. He faces three charges related to breaking and entering and was denied bail during his court appearance in Parramatta.
Investigators allege that the coins were sold online within hours of being stolen from a truck at the warehouse. The coins were in transit, set to be moved to a storage facility in Brisbane at the time of the incident. It took several days for it to be discovered that the pallet containing the coins, weighing around 500 kg (1102 lbs), was missing. While police have recovered approximately 1,000 coins, they suspect the remainder are already circulating in the market.
The police operation is dubbed Strike Force Bandit, referencing Bandit, a character who is Bluey’s father. The stolen coins are identified as “Dollarbucks,” a term featured in the animated series.
Bluey, created by a Brisbane-based animation firm, has gained immense popularity and is now aired in over 60 countries, including the UK, US, and China. Last year, the show received over 20 billion streaming minutes on a major platform in the US, ranking among the top ten streaming programs.
Unlike a collectible set of Bluey currency launched by the Royal Australian Mint in June, the stolen coins represent a separate issue amid the ongoing investigation.
