A man who confesses to theft: how many times is he turned back?

Abd al-Rahman said: I was sitting with Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) when a man came and said: O Commander of the Faithful! I have stolen. He rebuked him severely. He came back a second time and said: I have stolen. At this Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said to him: You have indeed testified against yourself twice. The narrator said: Then he gave the order concerning him, and his hand was cut off. I saw his hand hanging, on his neck.

Subay' Abu Salim said: I was present with Sayyiduna Hasan bin Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) when a man who had confessed to theft was brought. At this Sayyiduna Hasan said: Perhaps you snatched it, so that he would say: No. This continued until the man had confessed before him two or three times; then on his order his hand was cut off.

Ibn Jurayj said: I asked Ata about a man who testified against himself once that he had stolen. He said: That is sufficient for him.