What was a common medieval punishment that involved losing a hand for theft?

The story behind the answer

Cutting off a hand was explicitly prescribed in several medieval European law codes as a penalty for theft, especially for repeat offenders. The idea was both symbolic and practical: remove the “instrument” of the crime, create a permanent, visible mark of wrongdoing, and deter others. With limited prison systems, authorities favored swift, public corporal penalties that were cheaper to administer and hard to hide.

Punishments varied by region and status. In Anglo-Saxon and later Norman England, amputation could be ordered for serious theft, while lesser offenses might bring flogging or branding, and capital punishment was typically reserved for aggravated cases. Public executions and pillories drew crowds, but permanent bodily penalties functioned as lifelong social stigma in communities where reputation was everything.