When do they call the police in real life and how often are charges filed?

So you get caught in real life and they call the police. When does it happen? I can only speak for myself. I have been caught multiple times and the police were called and I got charged once. I have been caught by the same system in different stores and they call the police each time but the police don't come each time. It seems like they only come when you are acting like a menace if they are even in the area. The times I was caught they never filed charges against me in court. They just let me go. If someone who has been caught by the same system and in the same jurisdiction can confirm this or deny this then please do so. Also if you were charged were the charges dropped? What was your outcome?