Tom Tangney would prefer someone steal from him than starve

Stealing while hungry is no longer a crime — in Italy, at least. And while KIRO Radio’s Tom Tangney knows the idea is “blasphemy” in America, he is starving for more of this type of philosophy.

“I think that’s amazing,” he said.

Italy’s highest court ruled this week that stealing small amounts of food out of necessity is not a crime. The ruling stems from a 2011 case where a homeless man purchased bread stick but stole a bag of cheese and sausage because he was desperate and needed nourishment. The stolen goods cost less than $5 total.

“Somebody cue Les Mis,” said Tangney’s co-host John Curley.

“Victor Hugo could never have written his masterpiece, Les Miserables, if this ruling had been in effect in the 19^th Century,” Tangney responded.

While Curley finds the ruling ridiculous, Tangney said he’d be fine with someone stealing from him “within reason” if he or she were extremely hungry.

Tom Tangney: “You’d let him die in the streets? Even Donald Trump’s not going to let people die on the sidewalk.”

Tom Curley: “He’s not going to die in the streets, Tom. There are programs for people like that; they’ve got charities and stuff. That doesn’t give you the right to go steal something from somebody … Property is also described as freedom and you’re taking something from somebody that they’ve made or earned by the sweat of their brow. That is theirs. That is freedom. And the government is set up with laws to stop people from breaking a window and taking your stuff.”

But Tangney was not swayed, saying he would not begrudge someone stealing $5 if it meant survival.

John Curley: “OK, so some guy walks up to you and punches you in the face, knocks you to the ground, takes $5 from your wallet, and while you’re bleeding turns back over his shoulder and says, ‘Sorry about that, but I’m really, really hungry.”

Tom Tangey: “He shouldn’t have punched me. He just needs to take it surreptitiously.”

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