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I stole a safe, and faced the dilemma of my life

Matthew Hahn found photos of child sexual abuse locked in a safe he'd stolen. But reporting this would mean admitting to his own crime, which could result in life imprisonment.

Matthew Hahn used to burgle houses in the San Francisco Bay Area to pay for a drug habit. One fateful night in 2005 he stole a safe from someone’s home, hoping that its contents would fund his next high. But he was horrified to discover that the safe contained evidence of a very young girl being sexually abused. Matthew felt he had to do something to help the child, but due to his past criminal record he knew he faced life in prison if he admitted to stealing the safe. His decision would have profound consequences for both himself and the girl’s abuser.

This programme contains details that some listeners may find distressing.

Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com

Picture: Matthew Hahn
Credit: Courtesy of Matthew Hahn

Available now

41 minutes

Last on

Tue 21 Sep 2021 02:06GMT

Broadcasts

  • Mon 20 Sep 2021 11:06GMT
  • Mon 20 Sep 2021 17:06GMT
  • Tue 21 Sep 2021 02:06GMT

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