If you've had criminal activity, you've had criminal activity. It is by no means universal that teenagers get fake ID and steal signs. I managed to survive my teenage years doing neither of those things.

All you can do is be honest and hope for the best.

All things being equal, someone who has once committed acts against others or against society is more likely to do them again than someone who has never committed such acts is likely to begin doing them, so I think it's within the rights of the agents making the decision to consider such things.