Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (US) to harm.

1911

Wash. Herald (DC) 28 May 33/3: I’ll crimp his dome.

2. (US) to thwart, to block, to impair, to interfere with.

1920		F. Packard White Moll 112: Our game has been crimped lately at every turn by that she-devil, the White Moll, and that dude pal of hers.
1934		(con. 1920s) J.T. Farrell Young Manhood in Studs Lonigan (1936) 268: He felt that that rat, Arnold, would crimp up all the plans.
1939		Howsley Argot: Dict. of Und. Sl. 14: crimp – to interfere with.
1950		Goldin et al. DAUL 52/2: Crimp, v. [...] 3. To fail in a criminal plan or cause the failure of another’s plan.
1976		P. Theroux Family Arsenal 85: Mate of mine came out of the slammer with a crimp [...] ‘Arfa – he’s crimped’.