Thief SWALLOWS $22K Diamond Pendant During Heist

Close-up of various gold rings adorned with sparkling gems

A New Zealand man allegedly swallowed a $22,000 Fabergé James Bond pendant during a jewelry store heist, creating an unprecedented challenge for law enforcement and highlighting dangerous new criminal tactics that threaten business security nationwide.

Story Snapshot

32-year-old suspect arrested after allegedly swallowing luxury Fabergé pendant worth NZ$33,585 during Auckland jewelry store theft
Police face unprecedented challenge recovering evidence from suspect’s digestive system while he remains in custody
Incident represents shocking new frontier in property crime where criminal’s body becomes hiding place for stolen goods
Case raises serious questions about retail security vulnerabilities and legal precedents for biological evidence recovery

Audacious Theft Shocks Auckland Jewelry District

Police arrested a 32-year-old man inside Partridge Jewellers in central Auckland after he allegedly swallowed a rare Fabergé x 007 Special Edition Octopussy Egg Surprise Locket worth NZ$33,585. The theft occurred Friday, November 29, 2025, at approximately 3:30 PM when store employees immediately triggered alarms.

This brazen criminal act represents a disturbing evolution in property crime where perpetrators use their own bodies to conceal stolen merchandise from authorities.

High-Value Target: James Bond Collector’s Masterpiece

The stolen pendant features exquisite craftsmanship with 18-karat yellow gold, green guilloche enamel, 60 white diamonds, and 15 blue sapphires. The piece contains a miniature 18-karat gold octopus with two black diamond eyes, representing the 1983 James Bond film “Octopussy.”

This luxury collaboration between Fabergé and the James Bond franchise makes the item both highly valuable and easily recognizable, yet the suspect’s alleged actions rendered traditional recovery methods impossible.

Law Enforcement Faces Unprecedented Recovery Challenge

Auckland City Area Commander Grae Anderson confirmed the unusual nature of this case, noting authorities must determine appropriate protocols for retrieving evidence from within a suspect’s body.

The man faces multiple theft charges including the pendant theft, stealing an iPad from the same store on November 12, and taking cat litter and flea treatment worth $100 from a private residence on November 13. He was remanded in custody and scheduled to appear in court December 8, 2025.

As of December 2, 2025, the Fabergé pendant remains unrecovered, creating complications for prosecution and evidence presentation. This case may establish dangerous precedents regarding criminals’ willingness to use extreme concealment methods, potentially inspiring copycat crimes that exploit legal and procedural limitations in evidence recovery from suspects’ bodies.

Broader Implications for Business Security

This incident exposes critical vulnerabilities in luxury retail environments where high-value items must be displayed for customer inspection. Partridge Jewellers suffered direct financial losses exceeding NZ$33,685 and faces potential reputational damage regarding security protocols. T

he case demonstrates how traditional security measures prove inadequate against criminals willing to employ desperate biological concealment tactics, forcing businesses to reconsider customer access policies and monitoring procedures.

A New Zealand man is facing theft charges after allegedly swallowing a Faberge pendant worth nearly $22,000 at an Auckland jewelry store. Police say the 32-year-old suspect walked… https://t.co/X5Siwk7rhi

— Newser (@Newser) December 2, 2025

The luxury goods sector now confronts uncomfortable questions about display case accessibility, staff training for unusual criminal scenarios, and insurance coverage for unconventional theft methods. This shocking incident serves as a wake-up call for retailers nationwide who must adapt security strategies to counter increasingly audacious criminal behavior that threatens both property and public safety.