You go down to the local police station, and explain to the desk sergeant that you saw the boys stealing your apples, and you want some action taken against them. To your astonishment, the desk sergeant bursts out laughing, and tells you there is no chance of the police taking any action about a thing like that - they have far too much to do and far too few people to do it. Even if you caught the boys and brought them along to the police station yourself, they wouldn't do anything - the paper work just wouldn't be worth it. He advises you to think up some way of stopping the boys yourself.
Go and see the boys and appeal to their good nature
Do nothing more and hope they will stop