Imagine that the misdemeanor — a fine and a few months in prison — would sufficiently deter an individual from ever stealing again, or at least from Target. Target's theft problem is resolved, and the individual goes on with a more abiding life.

In the actual case, Target allows this person to believe the theft is easy and rewarding. When Target preps the legal case, this person serves years in prison.

Target has lost additional inventory meanwhile, Target has paid for the case-building, the individual serves a long sentence, and the individual loses future job candidacy.

Society also pays for the prison time and must support an individual with a difficult-to-employ problem. Everybody is worse off.

I didn't read OP's paragraph and think that they intended to make Target sound bad, but I was able to make the case myself, I think.