Last weekend we attended the German Pen Fest in Hamburg, the second edition of what should have been a celebration for people who love pens. Sadly, for us and several friends, it turned into something else entirely. The show opened at 11:00am. We brought some of the most beautiful pens from our store to share with our German pen friends. We had great conversations, met new people, and reunited with old friends. Unfortunately, we also met thieves. At 11:15am, an elderly couple with distinctive hats walked away with a Namiki Emperor Chinkin Peony without paying. We have clear footage showing how it was planned and executed, calm, coordinated, and professional. They later returned and attempted to take a Pelikan Toledo and a Visconti Il Magnifico, but those attempts were stopped thanks to how we secure our tables. In case if this was all a big misunderstanding and they simply forgot to pay, they are welcome to contact us. We are happy to send a payment link, and send them the gift box and papers. Sadly, one pen was not enough. The same couple also stole a Jan Zander Limited Edition from Jan Zander and a one of a kind Delta Ginestra (1/1) and Montegrappa Rolling Stones (0008/1962) from our friends at Papier und Stift. The organizers eventually caught and removed them from the show. We have since filed a police report and hope this couple can still be identified. What hurts most is that this happened right at the start of the show. I have always believed the pen community to be honest and trustworthy, and for the most part, it truly is. This incident was a painful reminder of how fragile that trust can be. the bad guys do not always look like the villains in movies. Sometimes they look like someone’s grandmother or grandfather. If we continue attending pen shows, we will be taking even more precautions with more cameras and more security. And yes, we are happy to make you famous if you misbehave. I am not angry anymore. Just sad and disappointed.
from Appelboom Pennen https://www.youtube.com/shorts/xYvBHsp2qxI
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