A man will face court today charged with allegedly stealing and selling unreleased limited edition ‘Bluey’ coins from a warehouse in Sydney’s west earlier this year.
Police say they received a report on July 12th 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 last Wednesday.
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, 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.
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 June 23rd.
Police will further allege the man sold the coins online hours after he stole them. They are now being sold online for 10 times their face value.
Investigations under Strike Force Bandit are continuing.
