Published on 07/12/2025
A 32-year-old man was charged after he allegedly swallowed an 18-karat Fabergé gold egg, a James Bond Octopussy locket, in a jeweler store in New Zealand.
Officers were called to the store, Partridge Jewelers, in central Auckland on Friday afternoon after staff complained the man had picked up the egg and swallowed it, according to Grae Anderson, the city’s central area commander.
“The Auckland city beat team responded minutes later, arresting the man inside the store,” Anderson said.
Police confirmed the object, valued at $19,200, has ‘not yet been recovered’ from the man.
The pendant is made from 18-karat yellow gold and decorated with green guilloché enamel, according to Fabergé. It is set with 60 white diamonds and 15 blue sapphires.
Inside the egg is an 18k gold octopus encrusted with two black diamond eyes.
Alleged thefts
The 32-year-old was also charged with the alleged theft of an iPad from the same jewelry store on November 12 and for allegedly stealing cat litter and flea treatment from a private address, according to the Guardian.
Anderson later confirmed the man had undergone medical checks since his arrest. “Given this man is in police custody, we have a duty of care to continue monitoring him given the circumstances of what has occurred,” said Anderson.
