Warehouse Worker Charged in $400k Heist

Australian Man Arrested for Stealing $393,000 Worth of Limited-Edition "Bluey" Coins

A 47-year-old warehouse worker in New South Wales, Australia, was arrested and charged by police for stealing 63,000 limited edition "Bluey" coins worth an estimated $600,000 AUD ($393,000 USD).

The man is accused of stealing the $1 coins from a Sydney warehouse and attempting to sell them online for 10 times their value. The coins, produced by the Royal Australian Mint this summer, are legal tender and feature characters from the popular children's show "Bluey."

What are the 'Bluey' coins?

Unveiled in June, the commemorative coins feature Bluey and her family, a cartoon family of Heeler dogs from the popular Australian animated series. The show, produced by Ludo Studio, debuted in 2018 and reached its peak popularity in 2023.

Capitalizing on its success, the Australian Mint released the "dollarbucks" coin collection via online ballots and authorized distributors.

The Investigation

Police were notified of the coin heist on July 12 and launched "Strike Force Bandit," named after Bluey's father. On July 31, investigators executed a search warrant in Sefton, seizing 189 coins and electronic devices. The suspect was arrested after a second property was searched in Westmead, and he was charged with three breaking and entering offenses.

Impact and Ongoing Circulation

Detective Superintendent Joseph Doueihi stated that the theft deprived young fans of the show from accessing the coins, and they are working to recover the remaining coins. The man is believed to have worked with accomplices, stealing the coins from a truck and selling them online within hours. Despite the raid, only a fraction of the stolen coins were recovered, with the majority already in circulation.

---

URLs:

• Police Announcement: https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/news_article?sq_content_src=%2BdXJsPWh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGZWJpenByZC5wb2xpY2UubnN3Lmdvdi5hdSUyRm1lZGlhJTJGMTEzNDEzLmh0bWwmYWxsPTE%3D
• Reuters Report: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/bluey-coins-worth-400000-stolen-by-australian-warehouse-worker-police-say-2024-08-07/
• "Bluey" Coins Unveiled: https://eshop.ramint.gov.au/2024-news-bluey-dollarbucks
• Ludo Studio: https://ludostudio.com.au/
• "The Sign" Episode: https://www.bluey.tv/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-grannies/
• Authorized Distributors: https://www.ramint.gov.au/coin-distributors