Queen following top criminal act (5)
I believe the answer is:
caper
'criminal act' is the definition.
(caper can mean a heist)
'queen following top' is the wordplay.
'queen' becomes 'ER' (abbreviation for Elizabeth Regina).
'following' says to put letters next to each other.
'top' becomes 'cap' (both can mean to beat or outdo).
'er' after 'cap' is 'CAPER'.
(Other definitions for caper that I've seen before include "that may be cut by the energetic?" , "Antic, prank" , "Jump about playfully" , "Skip or dance; escapade" , "Skip/dance about" .)