WELLINGTON, New Zealand -- Police in New Zealand are waiting for nature to take its course after a man allegedly tried to smuggle a 33,000 New Zealand dollar ($19,000) pendant out of a jewelry store by swallowing it.

The 32-year-old man, who has not been publicly named, is accused of eating an ornate Fabergé octopus pendant at Partridge Jewelers in Auckland on Nov. 28.

Evidence of the alleged theft has yet to emerge, police said Wednesday.

A police car is parked outside the Auckland District Court in Auckland, New Zealand, Aug. 17, 2015. Bevan Read/Fairfax NZ/STUFF via AP

"At the time of his arrest he underwent a medical assessment, and an officer is assigned to constantly monitor the man," Inspector Grae Anderson said in a statement. "At this stage the pendant has not been recove

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