TEHRAN -- Commander of Police for Tehran Morteza Talaie here Saturday cautioned that the average age of criminal offenders is on the decline while, at the same time, the number of petty crimes is on the rise.

He told reporters that over 35 percent of offenders arrested and convicted in the current Iranian year (ending march 20) are under 25.

The society's major concern is petty crime, which provides a suitable ground for turning to more serious offenses,'' he said.