Be it murder, rape or dacoity, an analysis of the latest crime statistics of Delhi shows a disturbing trend that people below the age of 25 years form a substantial part of those involved in crime with the majority of them being 'first timers'.

Around 850 of the 891 people, which is 95 per cent of those arrested for committing murders last year were first timers while about 510 (57 per cent) were below 25 years, the crime statistics for 2008 said.

There were 518 murders in the city in 2008.

Ninety-three per cent of those arrested were illiterate or school dropouts, it said. The figures for 2007 were also similar as 92 per cent murder accused were first timers while 70 per cent were illiterate.

"This is a worrying trend and is similar to that of 2007. Unemployment and disparities in income are the main causes for youngsters to take up to crime. They represent a vulnerable lot and easy prey to criminal gangs who use them for committing crimes," a senior police official said.

Police had arrested 650 people in connection with 367 attempts to murder cases, which also showed similar figures as that of murder cases.

Out of the 650 arrested, a whopping 90 per cent were ‘novices’ in the field of crime while 57 per cent were in the age group of 25 years. Ninety-one per cent of those caught under this head were illiterate.

In dacoity cases, 56 per cent of the 93 people arrested last year were youngsters while 85 per cent were first timers.

Eighty-nine per cent of 1,022 arrested in robbery cases were novices while 73 per cent were below the age of 25 years.

Similarly, 89 per cent of the 1,208 people arrested in snatching cases were first timers, with 76 per cent below the age of 25 years.