Australian police have arrested a man accused of stealing over $393,000 worth of unreleased limited-edition coins featuring Bluey, the character from the popular animated children’s show.
The Australian-dollar coins were stolen from the back of a truck in a warehouse in Sydney in June, New South Wales police said in a statement on Wednesday following the arrest.
The show “Bluey,” which follows the adventures of its title character, a 6-year-old blue dog, and her family, premiered in Australia in 2018 but is now firmly a global phenomenon.
Its celebration of imaginative play and its humorous and warm depiction of modern parenting has made it a hit with children and adults alike, and it was the second-most streamed show in the United States last year, according to media ratings company Nielsen, racking up more viewing minutes than “Friends,” “Gilmore Girls” or “Grey’s Anatomy.” Bluey’s character even appeared at last year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Australian police said they were informed in July about the theft of 63,000 unreleased commemorative Bluey coins produced by the Royal Australian Mint. A police investigation led to the recovery of 189 coins last month, and the arrest of a 47-year-old man on Wednesday.
The police investigation unit was named “Strike Force Bandit,” in what appeared to be a nod to the show (Bluey’s father is called Bandit).
“The majority of the coins remain outstanding,” Detective Superintendent Joseph Doueihi told reporters at a news conference. “We believe the coins are in general circulation.”
The suspect was an employee at the warehouse, the police statement said, adding that the thief may have “sold the coins online hours after he stole them. They are now being sold online for ten times their face value.”
Doueihi told reporters that the theft “deprived a lot of young children and members of the community from having access to these coins, so we’re doing our absolute best to try to recover these coins and put them back into circulation,” Reuters reported.
The commemorative coins were first announced by the Royal Australian Mint in June and are legal tender.
“Everyone’s favourite blue heeler, Bluey, is about to feature on her own set of Dollarbucks coins,” the mint said in a statement titled “Bluey coins – for real life.” Dollarbucks is a term Bluey, her 4-year-old sister Bingo, and their friends use to describe money, while “for real life” is another frequently used phrase on the show.
“These colourful coins encapsulate the playful essence of the beloved TV series and are perfect for collectors and fans alike,” the mint added.