Thieves snag over $600K in rare Bluey 'Dollarbuck' coins—what collectors need to know
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In a heist that sounds like it could be straight out of a children's cartoon, a Sydney warehouse became the scene of a significant theft, with over $600,000 worth of limited edition Bluey 'Dollarbuck' coins being stolen.
These coins, featuring the Australian children's cartoon character Bluey, were produced by the Royal Australian Mint and were eagerly anticipated by collectors and fans alike.
The 'Dollarbuck' $1 coins, which depict the image of Bluey chasing a balloon, were scheduled for release into general circulation in September.
However, their debut was unexpectedly and unlawfully advanced when they were looted from a warehouse in Wetherill Park and sold for profit.
The theft, which occurred on 23 June, was allegedly carried out by an employee who had access to the coin packages.
The Royal Australian Mint had not yet released these coins, making them highly sought after by collectors.
Robbery and Serious Crime Squad commander Detective Superintendent Joesph Doueihi stated that authorities suspect the man and two accomplices transported the coins to a different location to sell them for up to $10 each.
The police were tipped off to the theft on 12 July, when they were called to the warehouse and discovered that a staggering 63,000 unreleased Bluey coins had vanished.
In response, Strike Force 'Bandit' was formed, a nod to Bluey's father's name in the show, as detectives embarked on a mission to recover the stolen goods.
A 'bingo moment' occurred for Doueihi when some of the stolen coins were found through a legitimate coin collector, who had advertised them online after acquiring them 'innocently.'
‘We don’t know what he sold them for, but we know that as soon as they were stolen, they were offloaded almost immediately.’ he said.
The police believe some coins have been circulated back into the community and are being used as regular currency.
The investigation led to a home in Sefton on 31 July, where police found 189 'Dollarbucks' and seized electronics.
Further action was taken on 2 August when a 47-year-old man was arrested at a residence in Westmead.
He was charged with three counts of break, enter and commit serious indictable offence and was refused bail at Parramatta Local Court.
The Royal Australian Mint had previously launched its Bluey coin collection earlier in the year, releasing 'Dollarbuck' $1 coins for collectors.
These collector coins featured colour images of Bluey, the Heeler family, and Bluey and Bingo dressed as grannies.
The stolen coins, however, were solely gold-coloured and intended for everyday transactions.
For those who may have inadvertently come into possession of these coins, the police have reassured the public that they are not required to hand them in.
However, they are appealing for information on the whereabouts of bulk quantities of the coins.
They believe the other individuals involved in the theft will be identified and arrested soon.
‘If you have information where bulk quantities of coins are stored, we ask you to contact the police as soon as possible,’ Doueihi announced.
In other news, Australian coins featuring King Charles III’s portrait will begin to circulate on May 21.
A proof set of these new coins has been minted and will be presented to King Charles III as part of a customary tradition. For more details, click here.
Have you ever encountered a rare collectible in your travels? Please share your stories with us in the comments below!
These coins, featuring the Australian children's cartoon character Bluey, were produced by the Royal Australian Mint and were eagerly anticipated by collectors and fans alike.
The 'Dollarbuck' $1 coins, which depict the image of Bluey chasing a balloon, were scheduled for release into general circulation in September.
However, their debut was unexpectedly and unlawfully advanced when they were looted from a warehouse in Wetherill Park and sold for profit.
600K in unreleased Bluey 'Dollarbuck' coins were stolen from a Sydney warehouse and sold online. Credit: Royal Australian Mint
The theft, which occurred on 23 June, was allegedly carried out by an employee who had access to the coin packages.
The Royal Australian Mint had not yet released these coins, making them highly sought after by collectors.
Robbery and Serious Crime Squad commander Detective Superintendent Joesph Doueihi stated that authorities suspect the man and two accomplices transported the coins to a different location to sell them for up to $10 each.
The police were tipped off to the theft on 12 July, when they were called to the warehouse and discovered that a staggering 63,000 unreleased Bluey coins had vanished.
In response, Strike Force 'Bandit' was formed, a nod to Bluey's father's name in the show, as detectives embarked on a mission to recover the stolen goods.
A 'bingo moment' occurred for Doueihi when some of the stolen coins were found through a legitimate coin collector, who had advertised them online after acquiring them 'innocently.'
‘We don’t know what he sold them for, but we know that as soon as they were stolen, they were offloaded almost immediately.’ he said.
The police believe some coins have been circulated back into the community and are being used as regular currency.
The investigation led to a home in Sefton on 31 July, where police found 189 'Dollarbucks' and seized electronics.
Further action was taken on 2 August when a 47-year-old man was arrested at a residence in Westmead.
He was charged with three counts of break, enter and commit serious indictable offence and was refused bail at Parramatta Local Court.
The Royal Australian Mint had previously launched its Bluey coin collection earlier in the year, releasing 'Dollarbuck' $1 coins for collectors.
These collector coins featured colour images of Bluey, the Heeler family, and Bluey and Bingo dressed as grannies.
The stolen coins, however, were solely gold-coloured and intended for everyday transactions.
For those who may have inadvertently come into possession of these coins, the police have reassured the public that they are not required to hand them in.
However, they are appealing for information on the whereabouts of bulk quantities of the coins.
They believe the other individuals involved in the theft will be identified and arrested soon.
‘If you have information where bulk quantities of coins are stored, we ask you to contact the police as soon as possible,’ Doueihi announced.
In other news, Australian coins featuring King Charles III’s portrait will begin to circulate on May 21.
A proof set of these new coins has been minted and will be presented to King Charles III as part of a customary tradition. For more details, click here.
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