Yahya said that he heard Malik say, "The sunna with us about thecrime of slaves is that the hand is not cut off for any harm that aslave causes a man, or something he pilfers, or something guardedwhich he steals, or hanging dates he cuts down or ruins, or steals.That is against the slave's person and does not exceed the price ofthe slave whether it is little or much. If his master wishes to givethe value of what the slave took or ruined, or pay the blood-price forthe injury, he pays it and keeps his slave. If he wishes to surrenderhim, he surrenders him, and none of that is against him. The masterhas the option in that."
USC-MSA web (English) reference: Book 37, Hadith 8