A hunt for the den of criminals (5)
I believe the answer is:
haunt
'den of criminals' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both locations as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'a hunt for' is the wordplay.
'a hunt' anagrams to 'HAUNT'.
But, I'm not sure how the anagram is indicated.
'the' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for haunt that I've seen before include "Place one frequents" , "favourite spot" , "place regularly visited" , "Visit as a ghost" , "Unhat (anag.)" .)