Verb Expression.

Hello, I'm an English Language Learner seeking for your help thus:
1. Please what is the best way or verb word that describes an action of a criminal or criminals who were in the middle of committing their criminal act, had to quit because they sensed or suspected policemen were coming.
2. How would l say above (1) especially in an artful way, if actually it is the approaching of the policemen that made them (the criminals) to quit or abandon what they were doing and escaped (preferably in this format " the approaching policemen made the criminals to quit what they were doing").
Thank you in anticipation of your usual assistance.