Source A: From a report about an apprentice riot in London in 1595.
June 13
Many apprentices*, short of food, who were paid only three pence instead of five pence, stole butter in Southwark market. They were put in prison because they were abusive to the Mayor.
*apprentices were young people who lived with a master, usually for seven years, while he taught them his trade.
Source B: A criminal in the nineteenth century explains how he became a pickpocket.
I ran away from home when I was 12 or 13. There was nine of us boys among the lot that I joined. I worked in Fleet Street and I could make £3 a week from stealing handkerchiefs alone. Sometimes I took a wallet as well.
Source C: A recent report on vandalism by youths.
Cars Vandalised at Whitsand
Around twenty cars were vandalised in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Radios and other items were taken, but this was more than theft; most of the cars were deliberately vandalised. This car had all of its windows smashed.
Source D: From a recent history textbook published in 2002.
At the beginning of the twentieth century, there were over 200 police forces. Local forces often failed to co-operate with each other. This meant that it was difficult to co-ordinate action against criminals who were becoming increasingly mobile - first because of trains, and then cars.
