When I was a kid, about 5 or 6, (back in 1958 or thereabouts), my 8 and 10 year old brother and I vandalized a house under construction. The studs and exterior sheathing was up, but not the drywall. We spread some roofing tar we found around the inside. I think we may have broken a window.
It was a small town, and people figured out who did it. A couple of the local cops showed up at the front door, confronted us, and told mom and dad what had happened. Mom said, "Well, I guess you've got to take them away." Off we went in the squad car to the station, where we were tossed into the holding cell and locked up for a couple of hours. Scared the piss out of us. Never did anything like that again. I supposed these days most surburban kids' parents would hire a lawyer and sue for injuring our self-esteem and violating our civil rights without due process, but thankfully my parents were of sterner stuff. My guess is that the cops called up first and arranged this.
And, you are right about the kids of today...or perhaps more importantly, the PARENTS of kids today.
The old "never in a million years would MY kid do such and such.." is probably more prevalent by at least 10 times these days than years ago....