Australian police have accused a coin thief of stealing a limited-edition coin value greater than A$600,000 ($393,500; £309,000) primarily based on the favored kids’s TV present Bluey.
When the Royal Australian Mint launched the collectible coin in June this yr, it precipitated a frenzy.
Police mentioned they acquired a report final month that 63,000 unissued $1 Bluey cash had been stolen from a warehouse in western Sydney the place the person labored.
Police mentioned some cash have been bought for 10 instances their unique value.
The 47-year-old man was arrested after a raid on a home on Wednesday. He was charged with three counts of breaking and coming into.
Steven John Nelson was refused bail when he appeared in Parramatta Courtroom on Wednesday.
Police mentioned the cash have been stolen from the again of a truck on the warehouse the place the defendant labored and have been bought on-line inside hours.
They have been scheduled to be transported to the mint on the time of the alleged theft, police mentioned.
Police mentioned that whereas they’ve recovered about 1,000 cash, they imagine the remaining are in circulation.
The set of three colourful $1 cash is labeled “Dollarbucks” – which is what cash is commonly referred to in comics.
In line with the Mint, solely 30,000 of every coin have been minted in units of 30,000, that means a few third of the cash have been allegedly stolen.
When contacted by the BBC, the Royal Australian Mint declined to remark, saying the findings have been “inappropriate”.
The New South Wales Police investigation is codenamed “Strike Pressure Bandit”, named after Bluey’s father Bandit within the present.
Demand for these cash was so nice that the Mint diverted all telephone strains to gross sales facilities on the day of launch, citing “blue mania.”
However not solely have they turn into a sizzling commodity amongst Bluey followers, they’ve additionally attracted sellers.
Units of three cash are priced at A$55, whereas single cash can be found for A$20.
On the time of writing, the BBC discovered bids on eBay for a set of three cash as excessive as $190, whereas units of different cash have been promoting for $400.
There was no indication that the cash have been amongst these allegedly stolen.
The hit present concerning the Heeler canine household is produced by Brisbane animation firm Ludo in partnership with BBC Studios and the Australian Broadcasting Company.
“Bluey” has been an enormous success internationally and is now broadcast in additional than 60 international locations together with the UK, US and China.
Final yr, the present performed greater than 20 billion minutes on Disney+ in the US, making it among the many high 10 most-watched streaming reveals in the US.
“Bluey” has three seasons and greater than 150 episodes.
