Target and Walmart do not have thresholds. If they see you stealing and can make the stop they will.
Target has excellent forensic and investigative capabilities. When they see a trend or they know someone's stolen but couldn't catch them they'll go back through camera footage and start case building. If you're close to the felony limit and they know your patterns they' might wait to pounce. Otherwise they'll get you at the first opportunity. Walmart doesn't have all of the capabilities Target does, but they have enough. If you're a regular and they have enough camera footage after you've left and the totals are high enough they might case build. Either store is more likely to bust you at the first opportunity though.

You're fine. They got their merch back and you made it out the door safely.
Any time I have an incident I go back over everything, repeatedly, and try fo figure out what the tells were.

Try a different Party City in a more affluent area. Walmart might have them too. Check online.

Awww....you miss Parler so you came to troll us.

My favorite is a large rectangular purse with an adjustable strap. I can wear it crossbody or on my shoulder and adjust it to hang where I need it to for easy concealment. It holds a lot more than it looks and is somewhat structured.

I pay for gas, coffee, and the occasional restaurant meal but that's pretty much it. I don't need a lot, live very simply and just take what I need. I only lift for purpose these days and know what I want when I enter a store. I do pay for larger items that I can't conceal. Walk outs aren't a thing in my area currently. Doors and foot traffic are monitored due to Covid.

What I meant was if you're going to keep hitting the same home improvement stores, expand your territory. Don't hit the same locations too frequently.

It seems like you're hitting the same stores repeatedly. Take a road trip to a nice, upscale area, dress appropriately, hit some stores within a certain radius, don't go back for at least 6 months.

Feel better. Your input is always valued.