In brief
In a bizarre turn of events, a 32-year-old man in New Zealand faces theft charges after being accused of swallowing a prestigious Fabergé egg locket valued at NZ$33,585 ($19,300). The theft occurred at Partridge Jewellers, where he was arrested shortly after the act. Police report that the egg, which remains unrecovered, features exquisite gemstones and intricate designs inspired by a James Bond film.
A New Zealand man has been charged for theft after he allegedly stole a diamond-studded locket in a rather unusual way - by swallowing it.
The ingested loot - a Fabergé egg locket valued at NZ$33,585 ($19,300; £14,600) - has not yet been recovered, police told local media outlets.
Police were called to Partridge Jewellers in central Auckland last Friday afternoon, and the 32-year-old man was arrested in-store minutes later. He has undergone a medical assessment and remains in custody, according to police.
The allegedly stolen Fabergé egg is set with 60 white diamonds and 15 blue sapphires, according to the jeweller's website, and opens to reveal an 18-carat gold miniature octopus.
The Octopussy egg, as it is named, was inspired by the 1983 James Bond film of the same name, which centres on an elaborate Fabergé egg heist.
Fabergé is a world-renowned jeweller founded in Russia more than two centuries ago, famous for its eggs made of gems and precious metals.
The suspect is due to appear in court again on 8 December.
According to reports, he has also been charged with allegedly stealing an iPad from the same jewellery store on 12 November and making off with cat litter and flea control products worth NZ$100 from a private address a day after.
