Police at Work

It is about 10:00 on a warm summer’s night. A municipal police  officer is dispatched to a residence to take a theft report. Upon  arrival, she is informed by the residents that a very expensive bicycle  has been stolen from their front porch. The victims further inform the  officer that earlier that afternoon they observed a juvenile—whom they  know by name, because he lives a few blocks up the street—walking on the  sidewalk across the street and looking furtively at the bicycle. The  officer recognizes the youth’s name by reputation (i.e., prior  involvement with police).

She drives her patrol car by the youth’s home and, through the open  front door, observes that the living room is dark but the television is  turned on. She goes to the front door, and the juvenile is alone  watching television; he comes to the door and tells the officer that his  parents are sleeping. The officer knows that if she wakes the parents  and (in their presence) asks the boy if he knows anything about the  stolen bicycle, he will deny any such knowledge.

1.  How should the officer proceed?
2.  Is there an option available that will have a positive outcome for the juvenile, the victims, and the police officer?