An alleged thief in Merrimack, N.H., who police say swallowed a diamond ring to avoid detection, had to have the jewel surgically removed from his stomach.

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Police claim Kenny Narron of Richlands, N.C., stole a 1.2-carat diamond ring from beneath a mattress while painting the inside of a Merrimack home and swallowed the piece to keep it hidden from investigators, the Nashua (N.H.) Telegraph reported Wednesday.

Tony Deveaux had hidden the $6,800 solitaire diamond in the apartment shared with his brother and suspicion fell on Narron when it was missing after his visit.

"I pieced it together in about 30 seconds," Deveaux told the Telegraph.

Video footage allegedly showed Narron swallowing the ring while in the booking area of the police station. The empty ring box was in a drawer in the room and a shredded certificate bearing Deveaux's name was found on the chair behind Narron.

Narron was taken to St. Joseph Hospital, where doctors determined it was necessary to remove the ring surgically.