Auckland police have successfully retrieved a high-value Fabergé egg pendant, six days after a suspect allegedly ingested it in a bold attempt to steal the item from a prestigious jeweller. The intricate piece, valued at over NZ$33,000, was recovered through natural means after authorities maintained a constant vigil over the detained individual. The 32-year-old man, whose identity remains suppressed, now faces a charge of theft following the peculiar incident at Partridge Jewellers in central Auckland.
The event unfolded on 28 November when store staff alerted police to an alleged theft in progress. Officers arrived swiftly, apprehending the suspect within the premises. It is believed he swallowed the pendant in a desperate bid to conceal the evidence. Inspector Grae Anderson of the New Zealand Police confirmed that the man was taken into custody immediately. "Given this man is in police custody, we have a duty of care to continue monitoring him given the circumstances of what has occurred," Inspector Anderson stated, outlining the rationale for the subsequent unusual police operation.
Following his initial court appearance on 29 November, the suspect was subjected to round-the-clock observation by officers tasked with a specific and delicate monitoring duty. For nearly a week, police waited for the item to pass through his gastrointestinal tract, a process that concluded on the night of 4 December. A police spokesperson confirmed that "medical intervention [was] not required" for the recovery. The pendant was ultimately retrieved still attached to its original gold chain and price tag, seemingly undamaged by its extraordinary journey.
The recovered objet d'art is no ordinary trinket. Crafted by the legendary house of Fabergé, it is one of only fifty limited-edition pendants inspired by the James Bond film *Octopussy*. The 8.4-centimetre tall egg is fashioned from gold and green enamel, adorned with 183 diamonds and two sapphires. It features a hinged design, opening to reveal a meticulously sculpted 18-carat gold octopus. The piece represents a significant financial and artistic asset, which will now be returned to its rightful owner, Fabergé.
The case has highlighted the extensive measures law enforcement may undertake to secure evidence, even when it involves considerable resource allocation for sustained monitoring. The suspect remains in custody and is scheduled to reappear in the Auckland District Court on 8 December. While the method of theft was unorthodox, the resolution demonstrates that even the most audacious plans can unravel, culminating in an undignified and closely watched conclusion.