Criminal rents yard from guard (6)
I believe the answer is:
sentry
'guard' is the definition.
(sentry is a kind of guard)
'criminal rents yard' is the wordplay.
'criminal' indicates an anagram.
'yard' becomes 'y'.
'rents' anagrammed gives 'sentr'.
'sentr'+'y'='SENTRY'
'from' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for sentry that I've seen before include "Lookout soldier" , "One keeps watch" , "Sentinel, watch" , "Person posted to keep watch for some anticipated event" , "One who stands guard" .)