More than 40,000 stolen Bluey coins found during raid on storage unit | World News

On By Karl


14017655 Cops recover over 40,000 Bluey coins stolen from self-storage facility
The coins are worth 1 Australian dollar each, which is equivalent to 50p (Image: NSW Police)
(Image: NSW Police)

Police found more than 40,000 limited edition coins based on the children’s cartoon Bluey. Australia after a raid on a warehouse.

Nearly 63,000 coins were stolen from a warehouse in Sydney in July, two months before they were due to enter circulation.

They are worth 1 Australian dollar each, the equivalent of 50 pence in the UK.

Police found 40,061 of the coins seized three months ago in a self-storage facility six miles from their original home. Approximately 23,000 coins are still unaccounted for.


14017655 Cops recover over 40,000 Bluey coins stolen from self-storage facility
3 people arrested in connection with the robbery
(Image: NSW Police)

Three people had previously been detained in connection with the theft.

Steven Nielsen and Nassar Kanj, both 44, were arrested in August, while Christina Vale, 27, was arrested and charged with trespassing and assault on Tuesday.

Police believe Ms Vale acted as the getaway driver in the robbery.

When authorities in New South Wales learned of the warehouse robbery in July, an investigation called Strike Force Bandit (named after Bluey’s father on the popular show) was launched.

The coins, known as Bluey Dollarbucks, were sold for prices well above their face value. On eBay, certain versions of the currency are selling for more than £100 a piece.


14017655 Cops recover over 40,000 Bluey coins stolen from self-storage facility
Investigation into Strike Force Bandit robbery began in July
(Image: NSW Police)

The first version of the collectible Bluey Dollarbucks was released by the Royal Australian Mint in June. They have since caused a frenzy in the country where the show was born.

In September, Australia Post’s website crashed ‘due to unprecedented demand’ for the coveted coins. While fans lined up in front of post offices to buy these coins, other stores ran out of gold coins.

Bluey has become one of the most popular cartoons in the world since its debut in 2018. The film, based on a Blue Heeler puppy who goes on adventures with his family, was first released on Disney+ in the UK four years ago.

The show is produced by Australian animation company Ludo in collaboration with BBC Studios and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

In September, it was announced that Bluey had become the most-watched series on streaming services in the United States, with more than 35 billion minutes watched by 2024.

A gold coin from the children's television show Bluey with a red balloon. There are green fields and hills in the background.

Bluey Dollarbucks has proven extremely popular with fans of the series
(Image: Royal Australian Mint)

Bluey has already produced more than 150 episodes and the show’s producer, Sam Moor, said in an interview with the BBC earlier this year that there were ‘other surprises in store’. Moor’s comments may have been a relief to many fans who were worried about the end of the show’s final season.

A Bluey-themed ‘interactive experience’ will open in Brisbane next month.

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