Theft crimes are handled differently by different prosecutors. The penalty also increases as the amount allegedly stolen increases.
Moreover, there are things which can occur outside of a theft conviction in criminal court which can unexpectedly cause problems in your life. In later court cases, you can be asked about your theft conviction so the other side can paint you as a liar as you fight for custody of your children, bring a lawsuit against a driver who seriously injured you or deny a criminal charge of something you did not do. The unknown penalties are often the worst in theft cases. You need an aggressive defense to any allegation of theft, from misdemeanor theft to serious complex felony thefts and swindles.