Some simple appending of Strings

Ques: 

Given a string, we'll say that the front is the first 3 chars of the string. If the string length is less than 3, the front is whatever is there. Return a new string which is 3 copies of the front. front3("Java") → "JavJavJav" front3("Chocolate") → "ChoChoCho" front3("abc") → "abcabcabc" Ans:

public String front3(String str) {

  String totstr=null;

  if (str.length()<3){ 

  totstr=str;

  for(int i=0;i<2;i++){

  totstr+=str;

  }

  return totstr;}

  else{

  totstr=str.substring(0,3);

  for(int i=0;i<2;i++){

  totstr+=str.substring(0,3);

  }

  return totstr;}

}