Should I Prosecute?

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My son called me yesterday to tell me about a recent hire at his company. After three weeks, they found out that the new receptionist was stealing credit card numbers from employees and customers. He asked me whether or not they should call the police. The righteous side of my brain said, "Absolutely -- she needs to be stopped!" And the practical side of me said, "Don't waste your time. The police don't care. She'll never be prosecuted."

Coincidentally, the next morning I read an article in The New York Times about a situation with the New York Junior League. The organization realized that its controller was embezzling but it negotiated a settlement and confidentiality agreement and she was not prosecuted. It reminds me of the numerous stories I've heard over the years of similar situations. Every day, hundreds or thousands of people are caught stealing at work. Often, they promise to repay what they took in order to not be sent to jail. It's gross.

What has your experience been? If you tried to prosecute, was it worth the energy and time invested?