A New Zealand police officer has been handed one of the strangest duty assignments ever after a 32-year-old man allegedly swallowed a jewel-encrusted pendant worth roughly $19,000, and the authorities are now forced to wait for it to “reappear.”
According to a report by ABC News, the pendant was stolen on November 28, 2025, at Partridge Jewellers in central Auckland. Surveillance footage and store staff say the man lifted the item, then swallowed it in an attempt to smuggle it out. Police responded within minutes and arrested the suspect inside the store.
Police spokesperson Grae Anderson confirmed that after the arrest, the suspect, who has not been named in the press, underwent a medical assessment.
Due to the unusual nature of the case, an officer has been assigned to monitor him continuously while authorities wait for the pendant to be recovered naturally. As of the latest update, the item remains missing.
The man is also reportedly facing charges for allegedly stealing an iPad from the same jewelry store and for stealing cat litter and flea control products from a private address, also in November.
What is the Fabergé “Octopussy” egg?
The object in question is a limited-edition Fabergé “Egg” pendant, a collectible piece inspired by the 1983 James Bond film Octopussy. According to the jeweler’s listing, only 50 of these “Octopussy Egg” pendants were produced. Each is made from 18-carat yellow gold, hand-enamelled in green, and adorned with dozens of precious stones.
The pendant is described as encrusted with 183 diamonds and two sapphires. Detailed listings specify 60 white diamonds and 15 blue sapphires, plus a miniature 18-carat gold octopus inside, its eyes set with black diamonds, a nod to the film’s octopus-themed villain.
The wait continues
The pendant — reportedly about 8.4 cm tall — is well beyond the size considered safe for swallowing. A smooth, small foreign object often passes harmlessly in 24 to 48 hours. But medical guidance suggests that objects longer than roughly 6 cm rarely make it through the stomach and intestines on their own, according to Harvard Health.
Given that pendant’s dimensions, it could take much longer — possibly days to several weeks — to emerge. During that time, the man faces serious health risks, including intestinal blockage or even perforation, which can lead to infection, internal bleeding, or other complications.
For now, the recovery rests on a decidedly low-tech method: time and digestion. If the pendant resurfaces, it could be used as evidence in the alleged theft, and since cops have made clear that until the item is recovered, they cannot close the case.
The man accused of stealing the egg appeared in the Auckland District Court on November 29, where he did not enter a plea to the theft charge. He is scheduled for another court appearance on December 8, 2025.
Published: Dec 3, 2025 05:16 pm