Tosefta for Exodus 22:4
כִּ֤י יַבְעֶר־אִישׁ֙ שָׂדֶ֣ה אוֹ־כֶ֔רֶם וְשִׁלַּח֙ אֶת־בעירה [בְּעִיר֔וֹ] וּבִעֵ֖ר בִּשְׂדֵ֣ה אַחֵ֑ר מֵיטַ֥ב שָׂדֵ֛הוּ וּמֵיטַ֥ב כַּרְמ֖וֹ יְשַׁלֵּֽם׃ (ס)
If a man cause a field or vineyard to be eaten, and shall let his beast loose, and it feed in another man’s field; of the best of his own field, and of the best of his own vineyard, shall he make restitution.
Tosefta Ketubot
Why did they say that damages are evaluated from the best property? Because of robbers and violent men, such that each should say, "Why would I steal? Why would I be violent? For tomorrow the court will evaluate my best field!" They relied on the verse "The best of his field, the best of his vineyard he should pay" (Shemot 22:4).
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