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STORY: Australian police said they arrested a man on Wednesday (August 7) for the alleged theft of nearly $400,000 (A$600,000) worth of commemorative coins linked to the popular children's television show "Bluey,"
The 47-year-old is accused of stealing 63,000 unreleased, limited-edition Australian $1 coins, worth about 66 cents each in U.S. dollars, from a warehouse in a Sydney suburb in June.
Police alleged he stole the coins, which weighed over 1,000 lbs, from the back of a truck with the help of two male accomplices.
A special police unit named "Strike Force Bandit" was set up to investigate the crime with police saying the coins are selling online for 10 times face value.
One of the most streamed television shows in the United States last year, the Australian animated show targeted at children is widely loved by adults too.
The coins, produced by the Australian mint, are legal tender but with one face featuring the canine main character, "Bluey".
Here's Detective Superintendent Joseph Doueihi.
''We are certainly aware of how popular Bluey is and the fact that these coins, the theft of these coins have 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 recover these coins and put them back into circulation.”
A raid on a Sydney house in June recovered 189 coins but Doueihi said the vast bulk of coins are already in circulation.
He said those who have received one do not need to surrender it to police.
