Perpetrators of offences that fit into stereotypical images of `stranger-danger' appear to be at the basis of crime debates, regardless of evidence indicating that most reported and (with some likelihood) most unreported attacks, occur between people who know each other. Such images of strange and evil men in the public mind and at the basis of traditional concepts of crime prevention concern aspects of masculinities. Attempts at gender-specific theories of crime rarely inform criminological or victimological debates. In this explorative discussion of the link between crime and masculinities, the most threatening images of `evil' masculinities are interpreted as constructs symbolising the antithesis (`other') of legitimate masculinities in patriarchal societies. Accordingly, the question is investigated whether rising concern about `evil men' in some cultures (or during periods of cultural change) can be linked to a crisis of hegemonic masculinity in the mainstream culture. To explore this assumption, the article compares current crime problems in the area of interpersonal violent sexual offences in a `low-crime' country (Japan), a `medium-crime' country (Germany) and a `high-crime' country (Australia). The visible differences in the three countries are interpreted in a paradigm of crime as an indicator of a crisis of hegemonic masculinity.