A man in New Zealand is facing theft charges, accused of swallowing a James Bond-themed Faberge egg pendant worth around $19,000.
Police responded to a jewelry store in Auckland, New Zealand, Friday and arrested the 32-year-old suspect, who has not been publicly named by law enforcement. The man who allegedly swallowed the pendant is in custody and is due back in court Monday, according to New Zealand news site Stuff.
Auckland police commander and inspector Grae Anderson said that the suspect was medically assessed and is being constantly monitored, adding that ”we have a duty of care to continue monitoring him given the circumstances of what has occurred” and that “at this stage the pendant has not been recovered,” according to Stuff.
The pendant is one of only 50 made, according to The Associated Press. It’s made of 18-karat gold, with 60 white diamonds and 15 blue sapphires, and includes a golden octopus in the middle in homage to the 1983 James Bond movie “Octopussy,” according to the Faberge website.
The pendant is worth 33,585 New Zealand dollars, equivalent to $19,388, according to Stuff.
The movie, the sixth to star Roger Moore as Agent 007, revolves in part around a Faberge egg and a replica, as well as the titular character, a jewel smuggler played by Maud Adams.
In addition to the pendant, the suspect is also accused of stealing an iPad from the same store on Nov. 12, according to the BBC.
