Crime takes a bit of erasing (3)
I believe the answer is:
sin
'crime' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'a bit of erasing' is the wordplay.
'a bit of' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue.
'SIN' is hidden within 'erasing'.
'takes' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for sin that I've seen before include "Breach of moral code" , "Serious error" , "Wrongdoing" , "Something wrong" , "Mortal error" .)