Sydney Heist: Over A$600,000 Worth of 'Bluey' Coins Stolen

An Australian man is set to appear in court for allegedly stealing over A$600,000 worth of commemorative coins linked to the popular children's TV show 'Bluey'. The 47-year-old, along with accomplices, reportedly took 63,000 limited-edition coins from a warehouse, some of which have been sold online at high prices.

An Australian man will face court on Wednesday following his arrest for the alleged theft of more than A$600,000 ($393,000) worth of commemorative coins tied to the beloved children's television show 'Bluey', according to local authorities.

The 47-year-old suspect reportedly stole 63,000 unreleased, limited-edition A$1 coins from a secure warehouse in Sydney's Wetherill Park in June. The operation, dubbed 'Strike Force Bandit', was established by police to investigate the theft.

'Bluey', an Australian animated series popular among children and adults alike, was one of last year's most streamed shows in the U.S. The stolen coins, produced by the Australian mint and featuring the canine character 'Bluey', are legal tender but are selling online for up to ten times their face value.

Police stated that some online sellers were offering similar commemorative coins for A$20 each, while one eBay listing priced a set of three at almost A$600. Detective Superintendent Joseph Doueihi admitted he was unaware of the show's widespread popularity until the case came to light.

'The theft of these coins deprives many young children and community members of access to them,' said Doueihi, noting that their recovery is a priority. Police alleged that the suspect, who worked at the warehouse for two days before the theft, stole the coins weighing 500 kilograms (1102 lb) with help from two accomplices.

Only 189 coins have been recovered so far from a raid on a Sydney house in June. Police said the majority of the coins are already in circulation but assured holders that they do not need to surrender them.

(With inputs from agencies.)