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.
The Auckland Fabergé Egg Theft
Here are the five most frequently asked questions regarding the unusual theft in New Zealand:
1. What exactly was stolen during the incident? The item was a Fabergé “James Bond Octopussy” egg locket. It is a jewel-encrusted gold piece inspired by the famous 1983 film.
2. How did the suspect allegedly steal the item? According to New Zealand Police, the 32-year-old man stole the locket by simply picking it up and swallowing it while inside an Auckland jewelry store.
3. How quickly did the police respond to the scene? The response was very rapid. Store staff alerted the authorities around 3:30 p.m. local time, and officers arrived and arrested the suspect within minutes, while he was still inside the store.
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. Is the suspect being monitored for medical reasons? Yes. Due to the dangerous nature of swallowing a metal, jewel-encrusted object, the man underwent a medical assessment and is being constantly monitored by police officers to ensure his safety while in custody.
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