In one of the strangest jewelry heists New Zealand has seen, a 32-year-old man in Auckland has been charged with theft after allegedly stealing — and swallowing — a jewel-encrusted Fabergé egg pendant inside a luxury jewelry store.
The incident unfolded on November 28 at Partridge Jewelers, an upscale retailer renowned for its high-value pieces. According to a report by CNN, the suspect entered the store during the afternoon and abruptly grabbed a Fabergé James Bond Octopussy Egg locket before shocking staff by attempting to conceal the evidence in a most unusual way: by swallowing it.
Inspector Grae Anderson of New Zealand Police stated that the store immediately alerted authorities around 3:30 p.m. Officers arrived at the scene within minutes and detained the suspect without further incident. Medical evaluation was required to confirm the whereabouts and recovery of the pendant.
The stolen item is no ordinary trinket. Valued at 33,585 New Zealand dollars (approximately $19,300 USD), the Fabergé pendant is crafted from 18-karat yellow and green gold with intricate guilloché enamel detailing. The locket is further decorated with 60 white diamonds and 15 blue sapphires, making it both a coveted collector’s piece and a striking symbol of luxury craftsmanship.
Authorities have not disclosed how the pendant will be retrieved or whether the accused required medical intervention. The unusual nature of the theft has drawn widespread attention online, with many reacting in disbelief to the extraordinary attempt to ingest such a valuable—and potentially dangerous—object.
