A man will face court today charged by Robbery and Serious Crime Squad detectives with allegedly stealing and selling unreleased limited edition Bluey coins from a warehouse in Sydney's west earlier this year.
On Monday 12 July 2024, police received a report that a large amount of currency had been stolen from a warehouse in Wetherill Park.
Officers attached to Fairfield City Police Area Command arrived and were told that 63,000 unreleased limited edition $1 Bluey coins – produced by the Australian Mint – had been stolen.
An investigation into the incident was commenced by State Crime Command's Robbery and Serious Crime Squad under Strike Force Bandit.
Following extensive investigations, strike force detectives executed a search warrant at a property in Sefton about 7.25am on Wednesday 31 July 2024.
During the search, detectives located and seized 189 unreleased limited edition Bluey coins as well as some electronic devices.
Following further inquiries, strike force detectives – with assistance from Raptor Squad – executed a search warrant at a home in Westmead, about 7am today (Wednesday 7 August 2024), where they arrested a 47-year-old man.
The man was taken to Granville Police Station, where he was charged with three counts of break & enter commit serious indictable offence.
The 47-year-old was refused bail appear before Parramatta Local Court on today.
Police will allege in court the man was an employee at a warehouse where he located and stole the Australian Mint packages from the back of a truck on Sunday 23 June 2024.
Police will further allege the man sold the coins online hours after he stole them. They are now being sold online for ten times their face value.
Investigations under Strike Force Bandit continue.
Anyone with information that may assist investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
