Wellington, New Zealand – Police in New Zealand are waiting for nature to take its course after a man tried to smuggle a necklace worth NZ$33,000 ($19,000) from a jewelry store by swallowing it.
The 32-year-old, whose name has not been publicly released, is accused of eating an ornate Fabergé octopus pendant at a Partridge Jewelers store in Auckland on November 28.
Police said on Wednesday that evidence of the alleged theft had not yet emerged.
Inspector Gray Anderson said in a statement: “At the time of his arrest, he underwent a medical assessment, and an officer was assigned to constantly monitor the man.” “At this stage the necklace has not been recovered.”
The man was arrested inside the store minutes after the alleged robbery. He appeared in the Auckland District Court on November 29, where he made no admission to the robbery charge.
The alleged stolen item was a limited edition Fabergé egg pendant inspired by the 1983 James Bond film Octopussy. Central to the film’s plot is a jewelry smuggling operation involving a fake Fabergé egg.
The store’s website says the egg, of which only 50 have been made, is made of gold, painted with green enamel and encrusted with 183 diamonds and two rubies. The pendant is 8.4 cm (3.3 inches) long and is mounted on a stand.
The item description reads: “The egg opens to reveal an 18-karat yellow gold octopus hidden inside, decorated with white diamond lollipops and black diamond eyes.” “Octopus Surprise commemorates the eponymous antagonist at the heart of the film Octopus.”
Time and digestion will tell if another octopus surprise is imminent.
“Given that this man is in police custody, it is our duty to continue to monitor him in light of the circumstances of what happened,” Anderson said.
The accused man is scheduled to appear in court again on December 8.
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