Did you know that in some parts of the world if you get caught shoplifting you lose a finger or hand? What do you think they would do to this New Jersey thief? The bigger question is this – what would you consider appropriate punishment?

How many times getting arrested would you consider being egregious? 5? 10? 20? Get this - A Jersey City man with 77 prior arrests in three states has been charged with burglarizing a Newport Centre Mall store after the store had closed for the day. As reported in www.nj.com.

The thief is 44-year-old Michael Barton who appeared in court via video link from Hudson County jail on the charges of burglary, theft and resisting arrest.

He is charged with forcing open a rear door at 2:45 a.m. and taking 29 T-shirts, 29 blouses, 26 skirts, 27 dresses and five jackets with a total value of about $5,300.

Barton made matters worse when he decided to resist arrest when police officers ordered him to comply. Barton has been arrested 36 times in New Jersey, where he has 25 disorderly persons convictions and a criminal conviction for drug possession.

He has been arrested 37 times in Florida and four times in Maryland.

Again, I ask you, what should be his punishment? If you figure he stole or committed a crime 100 times for every time he got caught, he has acted in a criminal manner thousands of times. I think a theft education program could not help him and he belongs behind bars. What do you think?