We’ve had back-to-back major events in the tech industry, with Gamescom and IFA Berlin taking place, respectively, in the past couple of weeks. There have been reports of at least three cases of stolen tech from exhibitors during Gamescom, which ran between August 26 and August 30, and similar reports are starting to surface from IFA Berlin 2026, which ends tomorrow.

According to LC Tech Leaks, mini PC brand GMKtec has had equipment stolen from the event. We should note that we are yet to see confirmation from the brand itself, which has been busy launching new hardware at IFA. This includes the new EVO-X5 Pro, designed for AI workflows, powered by a Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 495 and up to 192GB of unified memory.

Recent theft problems at tech industry events

During Gamescom 2026, indie developer Ryan Laley was promoting his upcoming survival horror game Mimic (available to wishlist on Steam), but was forced to “cut short” after equipment was stolen from the booth. Police had to get involved, and Laley has since thanked fans for the wave of support that followed; he also had the chance to chat with the director of Gamescom regarding the incident. It’s worth noting that other developers at the event shared similar experiences in response.

As for IFA Berlin 2026, again, we are currently unable to confirm the reports, but it sadly wouldn’t be a big surprise given what we’ve already seen from Gamescom. Andreas Schilling, of the German publication Hardwareluxx, also highlighted the problem, despite noting the presence of security. Both Gamescom and IFA Berlin are open to the public – they’re not industry-only events.

LC Tech Leaks has prompted anyone with knowledge of theft from GMKtec to contact the authorities. They claim “all their mini PCs” were stolen, along with other equipment at the booth. We’re waiting for further confirmation from the brand.

About the Author

Jack Goodall

At PC Guide, Jack is mostly responsible for reporting on hardware deals. He also specializes in monitors, TVs, and headsets and can be found putting his findings together in a review or best-of guide.