Took lots, perhaps, before finishing crime (5)
I believe the answer is:
stole
'took' is the definition.
(stealing is a kind of taking)
'lots perhaps before finishing crime' is the wordplay.
'perhaps' indicates anagramming the letters.
'before' says to put letters next to each other.
'finishing' says to take the final letters (the letter which finishes the word).
The final letter of 'crime' is 'e'.
'lots' with letters rearranged gives 'stol'.
'stol'+'e'='STOLE'
(Other definitions for stole that I've seen before include "Moved silently" , "Wide scarf worn about the shoulders" , "Purloined; shawl" , "Lifted" , "Misappropriated" .)