When I was young, I could go over a 7 foot high fence, without having to climb it. Most young criminals, who are fit can probably do the same.
If a dog is napping or chewing a bone, it’s going to take a second to change gears, within that second, the criminal is already halfway cross the yard.
It would probably take the dog at least a second of time to cross the yard to go after the perp and within that second second, he’s over the fence and gone.
The cop following him, however, is now facing an alert dog in attack mode. :)
Uh. No.
Dogs can run far faster than you or I.
And dogs can hear you LONG before they see you.
This wasn't a "hot pursuit". The cops were called after the home security alarm went off. If the perp "ran through the yard", and managed to get past the dog, he was long gone by the time the cops got there.