Thief Poops Out Swallowed $33K Fabergé Pendant After Six Days

Unusual Police Operation Recovers Stolen Jewelry from Suspect's Digestive Tract

In what might be one of the most bizarre evidence recovery operations in recent memory, New Zealand police have successfully retrieved a valuable Fabergé pendant worth NZ$33,000 (approximately €16,500) after a 32-year-old suspect allegedly swallowed it during a theft attempt at Partridge Jewellers in Auckland. The limited-edition piece, inspired by the 1983 James Bond film 'Octopussy,' spent six days traveling through the man's digestive system before being recovered through natural means without medical intervention.

The Theft and Arrest

The incident began on November 28, 2025, when the suspect was arrested at the upscale Partridge Jewellers store in Auckland's central business district. According to police reports, the man attempted to steal the distinctive pendant before swallowing it when confronted by store security. 'We responded to a call about a theft in progress and found the suspect had allegedly ingested the item,' said Auckland Police Inspector James Wilson in a statement to local media.

The suspect was immediately taken into custody, where he underwent a medical examination confirming the pendant was indeed in his gastrointestinal tract. Police made the unusual decision to keep him under constant surveillance rather than pursue surgical intervention. 'Given the circumstances and the value of the item, we determined the safest approach was to wait for nature to take its course,' Inspector Wilson explained.

The Six-Day Wait

For six days, police maintained round-the-clock monitoring of the suspect at the Auckland Central Police Station. Officers were assigned to watch him continuously, ensuring the evidence would be recovered when it eventually passed through his system. 'We had officers with him 24/7,' Wilson told Radio New Zealand. 'This was an unusual situation, but we have a duty to preserve evidence and ensure it's recovered properly.'

The waiting game ended on Thursday evening when the pendant was finally recovered. Police confirmed it emerged intact, complete with its original price tag still attached, showing the NZ$33,585 value. Remarkably, the intricate jewelry piece suffered no apparent damage from its journey through the human digestive system.

The Octopussy Connection

The recovered pendant is no ordinary piece of jewelry. It's a limited-edition Fabergé creation inspired by the 1983 James Bond film 'Octopussy,' which featured a plot centered around jewel smuggling involving a fake Fabergé egg. Only 50 of these pendants were ever made, making them highly collectible items.

According to detailed reports, the pendant measures 8.4 centimeters and features a gold egg with green enamel, adorned with 183 diamonds and two sapphires. The most remarkable feature is what's inside: an 18-carat gold octopus that opens to reveal additional diamond detailing. The design directly references the film's plot, where a Fabergé egg plays a central role in an international smuggling operation.

Fabergé's Legacy and Value

Fabergé eggs and related jewelry have long been symbols of extreme luxury and craftsmanship. Originally created for Russian royalty in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, genuine Fabergé pieces command astronomical prices at auction. While this pendant is a modern interpretation rather than a historic imperial egg, its connection to the Fabergé name and limited production run makes it valuable.

The House of Fabergé, founded in 1842 by Gustav Fabergé, gained worldwide fame under his son Peter Carl Fabergé, who created the first Imperial Easter egg in 1885. Today, original Fabergé eggs are among the most valuable decorative art objects in the world, with some selling for tens of millions of dollars.

Legal Proceedings and Aftermath

The 32-year-old suspect, whose name has not been released to the public, remains in police custody and is scheduled to appear in Auckland District Court on Monday. He faces charges of theft and potentially additional charges related to evidence tampering or obstruction.

'This was certainly one of the more unusual cases we've handled,' Inspector Wilson remarked. 'But it demonstrates our commitment to recovering stolen property, no matter how unconventional the circumstances might be.'

The pendant has been returned to Partridge Jewellers, where it will likely undergo professional cleaning and assessment. Store management declined to comment on the incident but expressed relief that the valuable piece had been recovered intact.

This case highlights the creative approaches law enforcement sometimes must take when dealing with unusual criminal behavior. While waiting for evidence to pass through a suspect's digestive system is certainly not standard police procedure, it proved effective in this instance, preserving both the evidence and the suspect's health without requiring invasive medical procedures.