The article explained this about shop lifting. “A first-time shoplifting conviction, for an amount below $250, is a fine instead of jail. By the third conviction, the penalty is six months of probation. If that person violates probation, they could be put in jail.”  So, it’s all about convictions. After the third conviction the perp faces probation. Wow, that’s severe.  Violate again, after four priors, and perhaps jail. Meanwhile, before the convictions mount up, the perp is going through the inconvenience of a written summons while committing more crimes. This situation reminds me of a friend who disciplined her children by making them sit alone in a room for five minutes. Following that the child resumed with obnoxious behavior.