Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
A diamond-encrusted locket swallowed by a New Zealand man trying to steal has been “recovered”, police say.
The Faberge egg locket is worth NZ$33,585 ($19,300; £14,600) and was found “naturally”. “No medical intervention is required,” they told the BBC.
About a week ago, police arrested the 32-year-old man at Partridge Jewelers in central Auckland, minutes after he allegedly ate the locket.
The swallowed trophy was set with 60 white diamonds and 15 blue sapphires and opened to reveal an 18-carat gold miniature octopus, according to the jeweler’s website.
The man has been charged with theft.
Earlier this week, New Zealand police said the man had undergone a medical assessment and was being monitored.
“Given that the man is in police custody, we have an obligation to continue to monitor him given the circumstances that have occurred,” police said at the time.
The octopus eggs take their name from the 1983 James Bond film of the same name, which centered on an elaborate Fabergé egg heist.
Fabergé, a world-renowned jeweler founded in Russia more than two centuries ago, is best known for its eggs made of gemstones and precious metals.
Partridge Jewelers said the locket would be returned to Faberge, Radio New Zealand reported.
The suspect will appear in court again on December 8.
He is also accused of allegedly stealing an iPad from the same jewelery store on November 12 and cat litter and flea control products worth NZ$100 from a private address the next day, according to a charge sheet seen by the BBC.
