Pen show justice

[FredRydr]

Arrested: https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/...onal-pen-show/

[Jon Szanto]

Arrested: https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/...onal-pen-show/

I was there all weekend, and know the people involved in the capture. The following other headline really got my attention: I turn 70 in a few days. It could have been me.

Elderly man accused of grand theft at International Pen Show in Millbrae

[SIR]

a long time coming ... but doubtless there are many, many undetected thefts of the kind?

[TSherbs]

I just read about this! Yikes!

[TSherbs]

... It could have been me.

I *think* I know how you meant this...

[jar]

Arrested: https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/...onal-pen-show/

I was there all weekend, and know the people involved in the capture. The following other headline really got my attention: I turn 70 in a few days. It could have been me.

Elderly man accused of grand theft at International Pen Show in Millbrae

Kids!

[manoeuver]

Get bent and fuck you, Karl Emrich.

[Chrissy]

"This content is not available in your country/region" Sigh

[TSherbs]

"This content is not available in your country/region" Sigh

This:

www.kron4.comkron4.com
Man arrested for grand theft at San Francisco International Pen Show
Aug. 28th, 2023

(KRON) — A Pleasanton man was arrested on Saturday after stealing thousands of dollars worth of pens from the San Francisco International Pen Show at the Westin Hotel in Millbrae, according to the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office.

The event showcases vintage pens from all over the world and hosts hundreds of vendors. People who attend are able to buy, sell and trade collectible pens.

Around 5:30 p.m., the man, Karl Emrich, stole over $5,000 worth of pens and accessories as he walked through the event, the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office said. The 72-year-old was eventually caught by staff and all stolen items were returned to their owners.

Emrich was arrested and booked into the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office Maguire Correctional Facility.

Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to contact the San Mateo County
Sheriff’s Office at 650-363-4008.

Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc.

[Brilliant Bill]

Interesting. I'm sure if your moral compass inclines you toward theft, a pen show presents a great temptation. Lots of fungible valuables just lying about amid highly distracted crowds of people. An accomplished thief could make quite a haul in just an hour or two, even given current states of electronic surveillance. Makes me wonder what an overview might reveal. How much theft happens at pen shows? I'm guessing much of it goes unreported, sometimes perhaps even unrealized.

I'd love to see followup on this story. Is the thief a "career criminal" type or just a guy whose lesser angels got the best of him? Does he spend perhaps the rest of his life in San Quentin? Is he on supervised release (probation)? Is he somehow barred from attending pen shows?

Well. as my mother always told me, "You think too much."

Anyway, nice to see people get their property back. Good on the posse!!

[Chrissy]

I hope he would be barred from attending any future pen shows as a bare minimum as well as being tried for a criminal offence.

[Jon Szanto]

From what I saw, what I heard discussed at the show on Sat night and Sunday morn (before I left to drive home), this person did not appear to be a regular haunter of pen shows, nor did they give off the appearance of a career criminal. There were aspects of the activity, as it played out, and as he was caught and held for custody, that may have indicated a degree of mental illness. To his detriment, he was fairly clumsy in his actions.

I've had at least one good friend in the pen world sustain a significant theft loss at a pen show, and the incidents have been somewhat regular in the last few years, so I"m glad that this event had a better outcome. That said, it is still an isolated event, and every show will have to keep vigilant and active security in the years to come - it is an easy mark, even if it ends up being lone wolf individuals looking for a quick hit.

[SIR]

Interesting. I'm sure if your moral compass inclines you toward theft, a pen show presents a great temptation. Lots of fungible valuables just lying about amid highly distracted crowds of people. An accomplished thief could make quite a haul in just an hour or two, even given current states of electronic surveillance. Makes me wonder what an overview might reveal. How much theft happens at pen shows? I'm guessing much of it goes unreported, sometimes perhaps even unrealized.!

my thoughts exactly, but then... if, statistically, the largest single proportion of retail theft is committed from the 'inside', everyone needs to seriously rethink their approach to personal and property security; the reality is scarier than most would like to realise but nevertheless should.

[christof]

having the opportunity to meet all these pen people in person is much more worth than owning these stolen pens in my eyes. …sad story. just my opinion.

[TSherbs]

Other than this unfortunate crime, how was the SF show?

[Bisquitlips]

Other than this unfortunate crime, how was the SF show?

And here is a 2+ hour full live-stream archive.

[TSherbs]

Wow, 120 exhibitors, what a maze of hallways and rooms!