The Unusual Heist: Police Recover Stolen Fabergé Egg from New Zealand Man

Fri Dec 05 2025 10:13:00 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a bizarre incident, a New Zealand man has been apprehended after swallowing a diamond-studded Fabergé egg he attempted to steal. The egg has since been recovered by police in an unexpected manner.

Police in New Zealand have successfully recovered a diamond-studded Fabergé egg locket valued at NZ$33,585, which was ingested by a suspect shortly after an attempted theft at Patridge Jewellers in Auckland. The unusual recovery process did not require medical intervention, as confirmed by authorities. The egg, adorned with 60 diamonds and 15 sapphires, features a miniature octopus inside and is due to be returned to its original manufacturer. Meanwhile, the suspect faces multiple charges, including theft and is scheduled to appear in court soon.

In a bizarre twist of a heist, police in New Zealand reported the recovery of a diamond-studded Fabergé egg locket swallowed by a man attempting to steal it. The egg, valued at NZ$33,585 ($19,300; £14,600), was recovered 'naturally', without any medical intervention, authorities confirmed.

This unusual event occurred shortly after police apprehended a 32-year-old man at Patridge Jewellers in central Auckland, moments after he allegedly consumed the coveted locket.

The expropriated jewel is studded with 60 white diamonds and 15 blue sapphires, and unfolds to reveal an intricate 18-carat gold miniature octopus.

The suspect has since been charged with theft, following the incident. According to police reports, he underwent a medical assessment and is being continuously monitored due to the circumstances surrounding the theft.

Given this man is in police custody, we have a duty of care to continue monitoring him given the circumstances of what has occurred, authorities stated.

Named after the 1983 James Bond film 'Octopussy', which features a plot centered on a Fabergé egg heist, the egg is a notable piece from Fabergé, the esteemed jeweller known for creating intricate eggs made from precious metals and gems.

Partridge Jewellers announced that the egg locket will be returned to Fabergé. The suspect is expected to appear in court again on December 8.

In addition to the Fabergé egg incident, charge sheets reveal that the suspect has been implicated in other thefts, including allegedly stealing an iPad from the same jewellery store and taking cat litter and flea control products worth NZ$100 from a private residence.