New Zealand man charged for swallowing $19k Fabergé pendant

A New Zealand man has been charged with theft after he stole a diamond-encrusted locket in a rather unusual way – by swallowing it.

Police told local media that the stolen item – a Fabergé egg pendant worth NZ$33,585 (US$19,300; £14,600) – had yet to be recovered.

Police were called to Partridge Jewelers in central Auckland last Friday afternoon, and the 32-year-old was arrested at the store minutes later. Police say he underwent a medical evaluation and remains in custody.

The stolen Fabergé egg is encrusted with 60 white diamonds and 15 blue sapphires, according to the jewelry website, and opens to reveal a tiny 18-karat gold octopus.

The octopus egg, as it has been called, was inspired by the 1983 James Bond film of the same name, which focuses on the theft of an elaborate Fabergé egg.

Fabergé is a world-famous jewelry company founded in Russia more than two centuries ago, famous for its eggs made of gemstones and precious metals.

The suspect is scheduled to appear in court again on December 8.

According to reports, he was also accused of stealing an iPad from the same jewelery store on November 12, and smuggling cat litter and flea control products worth NZ$100 from a private address the next day.