Patriot Brief
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What Happened:
A New Zealand man allegedly stole a $19,300 diamond-and-sapphire Fabergé egg locket by swallowing it during a jewelry store heist. -
Why It Matters:
The locket has not yet been recovered, and the suspect remains in custody pending medical monitoring and a December court date. -
Bottom Line:
The bizarre heist has drawn international attention, especially given the egg’s James Bond–inspired design and the unusual method of concealment.
A New Zealand man is facing theft charges after allegedly stealing a diamond-studded Fabergé egg locket in one of the strangest ways imaginable — by swallowing it.
#BREAKING: A New Zealand man has been arrested after trying to pull off a bizarre jewel heist by swallowing a $19,000 James Bond-inspired Fabergé egg pendant. Police say they are now patiently waiting for the suspect to go take a Sh*t so they can recover the stolen item as the…
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) December 4, 2025
The unusual heist unfolded last Friday at Partridge Jewellers in central Auckland. Police say the 32-year-old suspect grabbed the jeweled locket and ingested it moments before officers arrived. He was arrested inside the store, but the luxury item has yet to be recovered.
The Fabergé piece, known as the Octopussy egg, is worth NZ$33,585 ($19,300). The locket contains 60 white diamonds, 15 blue sapphires, and an 18-carat gold miniature octopus inside — a design inspired by the 1983 James Bond film Octopussy, which revolves around a Fabergé egg heist.
Following his arrest, the suspect underwent a medical assessment but remains in custody as police wait for the egg to reappear. Literally.
Police in New Zealand are waiting for nature to take its course after a man allegedly tried to smuggle a $19,000 pendant out of a jewelry store by swallowing it. https://t.co/eZCXcpSjIg
— CBS News (@CBSNews) December 3, 2025
The man is set to appear in court again on December 8.
This isn’t the only theft he’s accused of. According to reports, the suspect is also charged with stealing an iPad from the same store earlier in November and making off with NZ$100 worth of cat litter and flea control products from a private home the next day.
While Fabergé pieces have a long history of being targeted in elaborate, movie-worthy heists, authorities say this may be the first time the getaway method involved digestion.
Photo credit: Fabergé