This paper explores crime rates in Cyprus during the period 2003-2013 and identifies the main factors causing crime tendencies. Criminal statistics, based on official police recorded data, show divergent trends, as a result of the several events taking place concerning the economy, the political and social life, not only in Cyprus but worldwide. Apart from the legislation changes and the introduction of new laws, these events are especially the opening of the crossing points in the UN-patrolled buffer zone separating the Turkish-occupied northern part of Cyprus from the free areas of the Republic of Cyprus in 2003, the accession of Cyprus in the European Union in 2004 and the global economic crisis that appeared in 2009. Even though there are different tendencies for specific types of offences, in general recorded crime in Cyprus gradually increases reaching the peak in 2011. The patterns in crime reflected by the socioeconomic factors are a warning of the change of Cyprus' small society and a challenge to policy makers in the mission of crime prevention.