The purpose of this study is to investigate how five individuals ended up in a criminal lifestyle and what other factors may have had an impact on the path to a criminal lifestyle. The study is based on qualitative interviews in combination with a thematic analysis method, to find patterns around the respondents statements. As men are generally overrepresented in terms of criminal groups in crime statistics, we have chosen to limit the study to only examining men who have had a previous criminal lifestyle. The study’s theoretical framework and earlier research show that the environment and social interactions have an effect on however a person develops a criminal lifestyle. Earlier research opined that social ties to society, family, friends and school have a major impact on whether a human becomes a criminal or not. The study’s results show four prominent themes that the respondents have described in their life stories; identity, relationships, sense of community and living environment and financial vulnerability. The study concludes that all themes affect and interact with each other, which affects whether an individual develops a criminal lifestyle. The study shows that an individual ends up in a criminal lifestyle due to external factors and thus does not make an active choice to become a criminal. As this study is based on a very small sample group, further research with a larger sample group is relevant in order to better understand the reasons why an individual ends up in a criminal lifestyle.