'Bluey' Takes Massive Hit After Near $400,000 Loss

Bluey is easily one of the most successful animated series on the market, amassing one of the biggest fan followings in pop culture. Stretching far beyond the intended audience of kindergarten and up, the series has grown even more popular amongst adult fans, leading to some rather unusual behavior.

Three animated dog characters are playing in a lush garden. The blue dog on the left and the orange dog on the right are enthusiastically raising their arms. The central character, with a gray face, is dressed as a flower. They are surrounded by greenery, flowers, and even some muffin-shaped bushes. — Credit: Ludo Studio

Adult Bluey buffs are almost on the same level as the infamous Disney Adults, but a recent headline might have them in the lead for most deranged fandom. Disney Adults might pull some crazy stunts, but how many have stolen thousands of dollars from the House of Mouse?

Shortly after the release of Bluey’s commemorative “Dollar Bucks” from the Australian Mint, reports of a man stealing more than A$600,000 ($393,000) worth of commemorative coins. Perhaps one of the most outrageous crimes of the year, news soon swept through outlets and social media platforms.

Bluey Loses Thousands

A simplified cartoon hand is holding a pink five-dollar bill featuring a smiling character, possibly Bluey, wearing a pearl necklace. The bill also includes a circular emblem with a cartoon tooth wearing a crown. The background is light green. — Credit: Ludo Studios

After the tremendous success of the Australian animated series, the Royal Australian Mint released a special collection of commemorative coins featuring the beloved cast of cartoon dogs. Interested collectors could purchase three variants featuring Bluey, Bingo, and their parents, Chilli and Bandit.

Naturally, supplies were limited, and it was only a matter of time before one fan became particularly greedy. NBC News shared the following in the report below:

“An Australian man was set to appear in court on Wednesday after being arrested for the alleged theft of more than A$600,000 ($393,000) worth of commemorative coins linked to the popular children’s television show ‘Bluey,’ police said.”

The 47-year-old is accused of stealing 64,000 unreleased, limited-edition A$1 coins from a warehouse in the Sydney suburb of Wetherill Park in June, according to “Strike Force Bandit,” a special unit police set up to investigate the theft.

“The coins, produced by the Australian mint, look like A$1 coins and would be legal tender. Police say they are selling online for ten times their face value.”

During the investigation, Detective Superintendent Joseph Doueihi made the following statement during a news conference after the theft. Doueihi expressed his thoughts on the matter, and his response certainly echoes many parents who share their children’s love of the blue cartoon dog.

Doueihi said,

“The theft of these coins has 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 try to recover these coins and put them back into circulation.”

For Real Life?

An animated blue dog named Bluey stands cheerfully on a pink background covered with yellow circles. Bluey is smiling, holding a small pink-and-yellow bag in one paw, and raising the other paw as if waving. — Credit: Bluey.tv

The report goes on to say that, according to the police, the suspect worked at the warehouse and stole the coins from the back of a truck before selling them online within hours. As police continued to search for the stolen merch, 189 coins were reportedly located as of June 2024.

For a show with a character so beloved and wholesome, it feels incredibly jarring that Bluey would be wrapped up in something so scandalous. Hopefully, the stolen coins will all be found and redistributed to the more appreciative members of the fanbase.

Did you purchase a stolen coin? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!