The punishment of a thief:
Baha writes in Aqdas, “When caught for the first time, exile and for the second time, imprisonment, is decreed for a thief. On the third offense, place a mark upon his brow so that he may be recognized by it”.
This means that if a thief is caught for the first time, he is to be exiled. Then he goes to another city and steals there, it will be as if he is caught for the first time as people will not be knowing of his past.
If at all a thief is caught for the third time and branded, then it is as good as a license given to him to steal. People will respect him just out of fear. Besides if he wants to repent will ‘Baha’ come and wipe out the mark from the thief’s forehead?
