Can't help you with the pickles but me and Robin can sort out the car stealing and drug dealing (although your boy will have to adopt a theme around his law breaking, without that we are not much use).
I call mine mate too, I don't think it makes them any less respectful. I agree that they take this meaning as a affectionate term rather than actually thinking I am their mate.
My old man used to call me batman when I was a kid (no, I don't know why either) and I never once thought I was...