In a bizarre and costly crime, a 32-year-old man in Auckland, New Zealand, has been charged with theft after he allegedly stole and swallowed a jewel-encrusted gold Fabergé egg pendant inside a high-end jewelry store.
According to CNN, the incident took place on November 28 at Partridge Jewelers, a luxury retailer in Auckland. Police said that the man grabbed the expensive pendant before swallowing it in an attempt to hide the evidence. Inspector Grae Anderson told the outlet that store staff contacted authorities around 3:30 p.m. local time, and officers arrived within minutes to arrest the suspect.
The stolen item, identified as the Fabergé James Bond Octopussy Egg locket, is valued at 33,585 New Zealand dollars ($19,300 USD) and is crafted from 18-karat yellow and green gold guilloché enamel, adorned with 60 white diamonds and 15 blue sapphires.
Suspect Monitored Until Jewelry Was Recovered
Police confirmed that after the man’s arrest, he was taken for a medical assessment, and an officer was assigned to monitor him until the jewelry was recovered.
Inspector Anderson said the Fabergé egg pendant eventually passed through the suspect’s gastrointestinal tract naturally — without the need for surgical intervention. According to the Associated Press, the recovery occurred six days later, and the pendant was found intact. The jewelry passed through the suspect’s gastrointestinal tract without medical intervention, authorities said.
The suspect remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in court on December 8.
Fabergé Egg Pendant Linked to James Bond Franchise
The stolen jewelry piece, the Fabergé James Bond Octopussy Egg locket, is a collector’s item inspired by the 1983 James Bond film “Octopussy.”
The pendant’s design pays homage to the elaborate and historical Fabergé eggs, which date back to the late 1800s when they were commissioned by the Russian Imperial family.
Modern Fabergé pieces, like the one stolen in Auckland, are still crafted using intricate techniques and premium materials — often retailing for tens of thousands of dollars. The Auckland theft has drawn international attention not just for its value but for the bizarre method the suspect used to conceal the item.