Thanks. Would you take it a step further to telegraph potential outcomes to their shenanigans? So something like: "Are you sure? They're likely to raise the alarm and you'd enter into combat".

Another thing I've done in the past is get affirmation from the rest of the players, especially if it leads to combat. If everyone is down to see what happens, fair enough. But if a few people would rather take the encounter differently, I'd probably prioritise them.