and

Property crime is fairly uncommon amongst young people, although a small minority are involved from an early age and offend quite persistently. Vandalism is the most common form of property crime, whereas housebreaking and fire-raising are rare. Three distinctive property offender groups were identified: an early onset group who desisted sharply from around age 14; a late onset group who increased their offending from age 13 to 15, before declining only slightly; and a chronic group of offenders who were consistently involved in the highest volume of property crime from age 13 to 17, although they did show a sharp decline in offending from age 15. Neighbourhood characteristics at age 12 do play a part in influencing whether or not a young person starts property offending during early adolescence. Over and above this, young people’s perceptions of their neighbourhood impact on their offending. Young people who perceive their areas to be poorly controlled by the adults who reside there are more likely to start offending early. Those who get involved in chronic property offending are significantly more likely tha