Man charged with theft after allegedly swallowing Fabergé egg
Police in New Zealand have charged a man with theft after he allegedly stole a jewel-encrusted gold Fabergé egg locket from a jewelers by picking it up and swallowing it.
The unusual incident occurred on Friday afternoon at a store in central Auckland, according to a statement from Inspector Grae Anderson, Auckland Central Area Commander at New Zealand Police, sent to CNN on Tuesday.
Store staff contacted police around 3.30 p.m. local time (9.30 p.m. Thursday ET), and officers “responded minutes later, arresting the man inside the store,” Anderson said.
The 32-year-old man has been charged with theft and has been remanded in custody prior to a scheduled court appearance on December 8, according to the statement.
In a separate statement published Wednesday, Anderson said the man had undergone a medical assessment at the time of his arrest and is being constantly monitored by an officer.
“Given this man is in police custody, we have a duty of care to continue monitoring him given the circumstances of what has occurred,” said Anderson.
Auckland Fabergé Egg Theft: Frequently Asked Questions
1. What exactly was stolen during the incident? The item stolen was a jewel-encrusted gold Fabergé James Bond “Octopussy” Egg locket.
2. How was the theft allegedly carried out? The 32-year-old suspect allegedly walked into a jeweler in central Auckland, picked up the egg locket, and swallowed it while still inside the store.
3. When and where did this happen? The incident took place on Friday afternoon around 3:30 p.m. local time at a jewelry store in central Auckland, New Zealand.
4. What is the current status of the suspect? The man has been charged with theft and remanded in custody. He is scheduled to appear in court on December 8.
5. How are the police handling the suspect’s health? Because the man allegedly swallowed a solid object, he underwent a medical assessment upon arrest. He is currently being “constantly monitored” by police officers to fulfill their duty of care and ensure his safety while the object remains in his system.