A 32-year-old man has been charged with theft after allegedly swallowing a pendant worth $19,300 at a luxury jewelry store in Auckland, New Zealand.
Police were called to Partridge Jewellers in central Auckland at around 3:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 28, after reports that a man had ingested a Fabergé James Bond Octopussy egg pendant, according to multiple outlets including the BBC, The Guardian, ABC and local media.
Officers arrested the man inside the store shortly afterward, and he is currently in custody, the BBC reported.
“The Auckland city beat team responded minutes later, arresting the man inside the store,” Grae Anderson, the city’s central area commander, said in a statement, per The Guardian.
“At the time of his arrest, he underwent a medical assessment, and an officer is assigned to constantly monitor the man,” he added, according to ABC News. “At this stage, the pendant has not been recovered.”
The Fabergé pendant is described by the jeweler as containing 183 white diamonds and two blue sapphires. When opened, it reveals an 18-carat gold octopus inside.
Emblazoned with “007,” the piece takes its name from the 1983 James Bond film Octopussy.
“The hand-crafted Fabergé x 007 Limited Edition Octopussy Egg Objet is limited to just 50 numbered pieces worldwide and stands at 8.4cm tall, crafted from 18ct yellow gold and hand-painted with a rich green enamel, carefully selected for its similarity to the enamel used on the Fabergé egg featured in the film Octopussy,” the product description states.
The man has also been charged in connection with the theft of an iPad from the same store on Nov. 12. In addition, he is accused of stealing cat litter and flea treatment from a private residence the following day.
His next court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 8.
