Overview

• Steven Neilson, 47, and Nassar Kanj, 45, pleaded guilty in Parramatta District Court to aggravated break and enter and an indictable offence in company over the June 2024 warehouse theft of 63,000 Bluey coins
• Sentencing is scheduled for October 8 with prosecutors due to file submissions by September 26 and the defence to respond by October 3
• A third suspect, accused of acting as the getaway driver, was arrested in October and will return to Parramatta court on July 31 following the recovery of more than 40,000 coins
• NSW Police’s Strike Force Bandit investigation led to August raids that yielded 189 coins and later uncovered the bulk of the stolen mint pieces
• The Australian Mint issued the commemorative Bluey coins for a September 2024 release and their popularity drove resale prices to roughly ten times face value