Police in New Zealand successfully recovered a Fabergé egg pendant valued at $19,000, six days after a man allegedly attempted to steal it by swallowing the item at a jewelry store. The incident occurred at Partridge Jewelers in Auckland, the largest city in New Zealand, on November 28, 2023. Authorities have not disclosed the identity of the 32-year-old suspect, who remains in custody.
The police received a report from the store’s staff regarding the suspicious behavior of the man. Following his arrest, he was monitored around the clock by officers. A photo released by the police shows the pendant, which was recovered on the evening of December 4, 2023, being held by an officer in a glove.
Designed from 18-carat yellow gold and adorned with 60 white diamonds and 15 blue sapphires, the pendant is a special edition inspired by the 1983 James Bond film “Octopussy.” The piece is approximately the size of a large fingernail and features design elements reminiscent of a Fabergé egg seen in the film, where Bond participates in an auction for an egg made by Carl Fabergé.
According to police, the pendant remained intact during the ordeal. “No medical intervention was required and the pendant passed naturally,” they stated. After being assessed medically following his arrest, the suspect was under constant surveillance to ensure that the item would be safely recovered.
Auckland Central Area Commander Inspector Grae Anderson emphasized the police’s commitment to monitoring the suspect’s condition. “Given this man is in police custody, we have a duty of care to continue monitoring him given the circumstances of what has occurred,” Anderson remarked prior to the recovery of the pendant.
The suspect is scheduled to appear before the Auckland District Court on December 8, 2023. He did not enter a plea to the charge of theft during his initial court appearance. As the case unfolds, it highlights the lengths to which some individuals may go to obtain luxury items, as well as the challenges faced by law enforcement in managing such unusual incidents.