Please, we need your help to combat our pen thief

As far as first world problems go, this has got to be up there. But a problem it is and something needs to be done about it.

In a studio where we have a lot of technology to help us do our jobs and broadcast around Hawke's Bay, you'd think we have everything we require. But there is one thing that never seems to be there when we need it. A pen.

The computer has not quite replaced the pen yet and sometimes you just need one, but no matter how many we acquire, they never stay in the room for long.

Yes we, like many other workplaces, obviously have a pen thief (or thieves) lurking among us. Recently we raided the stationery cupboard and took a whole box of pens, sure that this would solve our dilemma and even if one or two went missing there would still be plenty more. But within two weeks, all the pens were gone. So we've taken drastic measures and Operation Great Pen Plan is now in full swing.

We've realised the problem (along with losing all our pens) is that we have no way of identifying them as ours and getting them back. We're always giving stuff away to the public and now we're asking for people to give something back.

We would love anyone who works in a place with their business name printed on their pens to send us one or two. In exchange, we'll give that business a free plug on our radio show!

Please help us out. Our manager won't allow us access to the stationery budget after a certain someone (Martin) went a little overboard once and bought 12 staplers and a ridiculous amount of Post-it notes.

If you can spare us a pen, we would be ever so grateful and will of course talk about what a top notch business you have on the air!

We don't want our workmates to get wind of this great plan and intercept the pens before they make it to us, so if you're going to send or drop us off a pen, we suggest you pop them in an envelope and write "There are no pens in here" on it.

That should suitably put them off. All pens can be sent or dropped off to our reception, 105 Dickens St, Napier. Thank you in advance.


SARAH VAN DER KLEY