A 32-year-old man has been charged with theft after allegedly swallowing a Fabergé James Bond Octopussy egg pendant valued at over $33,500 (US$19,200) in a central Auckland jewellery store.
Police were called to Partridge Jewellers on Friday afternoon following reports that a man had picked up the pendant and swallowed it, according to Grae Anderson, Auckland's central area commander. Officers arrested the man inside the store minutes later.
The pendant, a Fabergé x 007 Special Edition Octopussy Egg Surprise Locket, is made from 18-karat yellow gold with green guilloché enamel, set with 60 white diamonds and 15 blue sapphires. Inside is a miniature 18k gold octopus with two black diamond eyes.
The man also faces charges for allegedly stealing an iPad from the same store on 12 November and cat litter and flea treatment worth $100 from a private address the following day. He has been remanded in custody and will reappear in court on 8 December. Police have not recovered the pendant, which they say has 'not yet been recovered'.
