Criminal behaviour in breaking into house and yard (8)
I believe the answer is:
villainy
'criminal behaviour' is the definition.
'villainy' can be an answer for 'behaviour' (I have seen 'Wicked behaviour' mean 'villainy' so perhaps 'behaviour' could also mean 'villainy'). I am not sure about the 'criminal' bit.
'in breaking into house and yard' is the wordplay.
'breaking into' is an insertion indicator.
'house' becomes 'villa' (villa is a kind of house).
'and' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'yard' becomes 'y'.
'villa'+'y'='villay'
'in' placed within 'villay' is 'VILLAINY'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for villainy that I've seen before include "Criminality" , "foul play" , "Wicked behaviour" , "Wickedness" , "Vile behaviour, evil act" .)