A 3-year-old from Counties Manukau, blamed by their parents for the theft of a teddy bear, is among the youngest people to get on the wrong side of the law.

The toddler's alleged theft is typical of the kinds of offences New Zealand's youngest potential offenders are committing, police figures show.

Information obtained under the Official Information Act, detailing the 10 youngest people apprehended by police in 2014/15 in each policing region, shows a trend towards children shoplifting and damaging property.

The alleged crimes include one 4-year-old being part of a group of children smashing the cladding on a garage, while another 4-year-old smashed a fire alarm at a shopping centre.

The 3-year-old alleged shoplifter was with their parents in a supermarket when a teddy bear was found in a stroller.

The parents denied taking the toy, instead blaming their child.

While police did not provide specifics about any other instances, the figures show police apprehended an 11-year-old in Auckland for aggravated robbery, a 10-year-old in the Bay of Plenty for exhibiting an objectionable publication, and another 10-year-old for indecently assaulting a young female.

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The data shows the 10 youngest apprehensions per region, but where children were of the same age, more than 10 children were included. There were 281 children represented in total.

Palmerston North police youth and community co-ordinator Senior Sergeant Jymahl Glassey said there was a specific approach required when dealing with young people.

"You need to let them know you are the law, but convey that in a way that builds rapport with them."

Many did not know right from wrong, and only thought of their own reaction to offending.

"A kid doesn't own a letterbox, or know the context of how much things cost, so it's really hard to put the effects of the damage they have caused in a way they will understand," Glassey said.

"They see the fun element of offending, like seeing something crack or go bang."

They could also get a kick out of seeing victims yelling at them, but not realise the impact of the offending, he said.

Police would try turn the effect back on the child, asking them how they would feel if someone broke their things or took their clothes.

Glassey said there was a range of reasons why children offended, including peer pressure.

"They want to be cool, or liked, or in the in-group.

"If they're then hanging around the wrong crowd, with people committing thefts or shoplifting, it is easier to gain cred or respect if they do stuff that is wrong."

A lack of good role models also contributed, which was why police tried to become good role models for children, through events like Blue Light discos, he said.

COURT ACTION A LAST RESORT

The law takes into account the age of young offenders, keeping them out of court unless totally necessary.

Those aged 12 and 13 can only be charged if their offending has become particularly serious or persistent, while 10 and 11-year-olds can only be charged with murder or manslaughter.

Glassey said deciding when to send a child to court came down to the number, nature and magnitude of their offending.

He understood 80 per cent of youth offenders were dealt with out of court.

Children were more likely to react positively to interventions outside of court, so police did all they could to keep them out of there, he said.

Interacting with children too young to get to court was a good way to quash any issues before they graduated up the criminal system.

Young offenders could be made accountable by getting them to apologise, do volunteer work, or do work for their victims, Glassey said.