Age seems to be an important correlate of offending. As discussed above, surveys of young people have indicated that criminal acts are relatively common amongst this group. Generally offending commences in adolescence, rises steadily and peaks around the age of 18, falling sharply thereafter. However, there are marked variations if different types of crime are accounted for. Property-related crimes such as theft follow the pattern just described whereas crimes like fraud and embezzlement are for more likely to be committed by older adults.