More than 1600 crimes in Edinburgh were committed by just 10 teenagers over the past three years, according to figures.
Children as young as 14 have carried out hundreds of crimes including robbery, serious assault, housebreaking, fire-raising and extortion in the city.
One 14-year-old from the east of the city has committed 233 offences to become the worst teenage criminal in the capital in the past three years.
The 10 teenagers with the worst criminal histories during the past three years have carried out 1635 offences, according to the figures obtained under freedom of information legislation.
Last night politicians called for action amid claims that part of the reason the children were able to reoffend was because of a lack of secure residential places.
This was rejected by Edinburgh City Council, while police admitted the figures were "horrendous" but added that dealing with persistent young offenders was a complex issue.
Inspector Andy Gilhooley, youth justice inspector for Lothian and Borders Police, said: "There are a small number of youths who are carrying out huge levels of offending.
"It can't be denied that these statistics make horrendous reading and the impact on their local community is a big cause for concern.
"We're working with schools, social workers, the city council and other agencies to try to stop them entering the criminal justice system and becoming hardened career criminals.
"But there's no simple answer."
Andrew Burns, Edinburgh's children and families leader, said: "The number of secure beds in each local authority area is set by the executive."
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