According to media reports, David Watts, who posed as a customer before running off with the jewellery items, has been refused bail until police can retrieve the rings.
The saga began on Friday 29 November when Watts entered Crown Family Jewellers at Indooroopilly Shopping Centre in Brisbane. He reportedly told the store manager that he was looking for engagement rings and wanted to compare two in particular.
It’s alleged that Watts then ran from the store with a one-carat diamond solitaire ring and a 1.53-carat yellow diamond ring.
Crown Family Jewellers store manager Liljana McDonald then chased Watts, screaming for help as she pursued him through the shopping centre.
Media sources have reported that Watts was eventually cornered, and, in a bid to conceal the evidence, swallowed the rings.
Watts was reportedly charged with stealing and fraud and has been remanded in custody until his next court appearance on Friday 13 December.