EXETER — A heavy police presence spread across parts of Exeter and Hampton on Friday, Aug. 21, after officers found a stolen vehicle abandoned on Hampton Road and launched a search for the driver.
Exeter Police were alerted at 3:59 p.m. to a report of a reckless driver heading eastbound on Route 101 who had exited at Exit 12.
Exeter police said the vehicle had reportedly been stolen earlier in the day from Atkinson.
Within minutes, police said an Exeter officer found the vehicle abandoned. Witnesses told police it had been left only moments before officers arrived, prompting an immediate search of the surrounding area.
Exeter police officer Connor Kennedy and his K9 partner, BoBo, cleared a nearby barn before beginning a canine track.
Police said the track ultimately led officers toward the area of Ashbrook Avenue.
As the search expanded, police said they established a significant presence in both Exeter and Hampton out of an abundance of caution. Hampton Police provided a second K‑9 team.
During the response, Exeter police received multiple reports of a suspicious man dressed in black running near Warner Lane in Hampton and Phinney Lane in Exeter, close to where the vehicle was found. Officers located and identified the individual, who was determined not to be involved.
As of Friday evening, no suspect has been located or identified, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Police said the stolen vehicle was towed to the Exeter Police Department and later returned to its owner.
Exeter Police thanked the Kensington Police Department, Hampton Falls Police Department, Rockingham County Sheriff's Office, New Hampshire State Police, and Hampton Police Department for assisting in the search.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Exeter police.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Stolen vehicle search prompts heavy police presence in Exeter, Hampton