Thief naturally recovers Octopussy Fabergé egg after swallowing

New Zealand police have successfully recovered a tiny 3.3-inch Faberg egg that a suspected thief had swallowed. Authorities patiently waited six days for the luxurious pendant, decorated with 183 diamonds, two sapphires, and hanging from a long gold chain, to pass through the suspects digestive system naturally.

The locket, inspired by James Bond and valued at NZ$33,500 (14,500), was stolen from a jewellery store in Auckland last Friday. Since the incident, police monitored the suspect continuously while waiting for the egg to reappear.

Police shared an image showing a gloved officer holding the recovered egg on tissue paper, still bearing its price tag. No medical procedures were needed during the recovery.

Only 50 of these limited-edition pendants exist. The dark green locket features a 007 logo and opens to reveal an 18-carat gold octopus, a tribute to the 1983 James Bond film Octopussy. The films storyline involves a rogue Soviet general stealing Imperial Russian treasures, including Faberg eggs, and replacing them with replicas.

Partridge Jewellers, a leading New Zealand retailer, confirmed the locket will be returned to Faberg.

The 32-year-old suspect was arrested shortly after swallowing the locket at the store on November 28. He has not been publicly named. He faces theft charges, including stealing an iPad from the same store earlier in the month and taking cat litter and flea treatment valued at 43 from a private address. He appeared in court in Auckland but did not enter a plea and will return to court on December 8.

Inspector Grae Anderson stated that police acted immediately upon the incident, arresting the suspect inside the shop. The officer emphasized the ongoing monitoring required due to the unusual circumstances of the theft.

The Faberg egg, which is mounted on a display stand, opens to reveal an 18-carat yellow gold octopus with white diamond-covered tentacle suckers and black diamond eyes, reflecting its exclusive design and cinematic inspiration.

Author: Ava Mitchell