The Long Āgama Sūtra 6.17

6.17

「復有人聞有作賊者，王給財寶，於是復行劫盜他物，復為伺察所得，將詣王所白言：『此人為賊，願王治之。』王復問言：『汝實為賊耶？』答曰：『實爾！我貧窮飢餓，不能自存，故為賊耳。』時王念言：『先為賊者，吾見貧窮，給其財寶，謂當止息，而餘人聞，轉更相効，盜賊日滋，如是無已，我今寧可杻械其人，令於街巷，然後載之出城，刑於曠野，以誡後人耶！』

Again, people heard that someone had become a thief and the king provided him with treasure, so they continued robbing others of their possessions. An officer searched for them again and captured one. He brought him to the king and said, ‘This man is a thief. Please, King, deal with him.’

The king again asked the thief, ‘Is it true that you are a thief?’

He answered, ‘It’s true. I’m destitute and starving. Being unable to support myself, so I just steal from others.’

“The king then thought, ‘I saw that the thief before was poor and provided him with treasure so that he would stop, but then other people heard about it and emulated him. The thieves are multiplying, so nothing has come of it. Now, I should like to display this man in chains on a thoroughfare. Afterward, I’ll have him carried out of the city and executed in the wilderness. Wouldn’t that be a warning to people after that?’