Bluey coin
Share and Follow

Two men will spend months behind bars before learning their fate after stealing more than 60,000 unreleased coins celebrating a popular Australian cartoon.

Steven John Neilson, 47, and Nassar Kanj, 45, stole a 500kg pallet of 63,000 limited edition Bluey coins from a western Sydney warehouse in June 2024.

Both have pleaded guilty to aggravated break and enter, and committing an indictable offence in company to steal more than $60,000.

Bluey coin
Two men pleaded guilty to stealing more than 60,000 of the unreleased coins. (Royal Australian Mint )

The pair were given an October 8 date for sentencing in Parramatta District Court today.

The prosecutors will have until September 26 to file submissions with the defence to respond by October 3.

The stolen coins were created by the Australian Mint for a special release in September 2024.

Imprinted were characters of the popular Logie-winning kids’ television show Bluey.

Some of the mint’s limited edition Bluey coins were found with a legitimate coin collector by police in August, but he had to give them up.

Neilson and Kanj sold the coins online for 10 times their $1 face value, police say.

Bluey coins found by police
Detectives also found clothing, power tools and bags also believed to be stolen. (NSW Police)

The two men allegedly worked at the warehouse where the coins were stolen.

Police seized 189 Bluey coins and arrested Neilson following a search of a south-west Sydney property in August.

Kanj was arrested after police searched another western Sydney home later that month.

The 45-year-old was also charged with three more offences of aggravated break and enter committing a serious indictable offence, but those charges were withdrawn.

Both men remain in custody.

A third person was arrested and charged in October, alleged to be the getaway driver.

After her arrest, police found more than 40,000 coins in a storage facility.

She will return to court on July 31.

Bluey has become a global phenomenon after first airing in Australia on the ABC in 2018.

It follows the adventures of a young dog and her family living in suburban Brisbane.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like

South Australia Pioneers Nation’s First Anti-Deepfake Legislation to Combat Digital Deception

South Australia has introduced stringent new penalties targeting individuals involved in the…

NYC Mayoral Candidate Faces Backlash from Locals Over Parramatta Remarks: ‘They Have Gangs Here

Parramatta might be over 15,000 kilometres away, but Sydney’s second-largest CBD has…

Australia’s Central Bank Holds Steady at 3.6% Amid Unexpected Inflation Rise

Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) governor Michele Bullock says “temporary factors” partially…

Women Triumph Over ‘Incurable’ Cancers, Yet Treatment Remains Inaccessible for Many

Two scientists with limited funds, extraordinary dedication and impressive scientific skills are…
Queensland drivers were given the option to renew their licences online as opposed to in-person at a transport department service centre.

Technical Error Permits Thousands to Renew Digital Licenses Without Medical Verification

A significant issue has been identified within Queensland’s digital system for renewing…

Authorities Issue Warning Amid Concerns of Rising Fatalities Following Kentucky Crash

United States authorities have warned people to shelter indoors after a cargo…

Choice Shonky Awards 2025: Major Bank and Faulty Heater Among Notable Highlights

Consumer advocacy group Choice has unveiled its 20th annual Shonky Awards list…
Concord Repatriation General Hospital in Concord, NSW. 9th September, 2020.

Tragic Accident: Two Hospital Staff in Critical Condition After Being Struck by Car During Break in Sydney

Two administrative staff members from a hospital were severely injured when a…