A suspect remains at large following a significant police operation in Exeter and Hampton, New Hampshire, on Friday, August 21, 2026. The incident began at 3:59 p.m. when Exeter Police were alerted to a reckless driver heading eastbound on Route 101 who exited at Exit 12. Authorities confirmed that the vehicle involved had been stolen earlier that day from Atkinson. Shortly after the initial report, an Exeter officer located the stolen vehicle abandoned on Hampton Road. Witnesses indicated the car had been left only moments before police arrived, prompting an immediate and extensive search of the surrounding area. Exeter Police Officer Connor Kennedy, accompanied by his K9 partner BoBo, cleared a nearby barn before initiating a canine track. The search effort expanded significantly, leading to a heavy police presence across both Exeter and Hampton out of an abundance of caution. Hampton Police contributed a second K-9 team to the operation. During the response, officers 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 discovered. Officers located and identified this individual but determined he was not involved in the crime. As of Friday evening, no suspect has been located or identified, and the investigation remains ongoing. The stolen vehicle was towed to the Exeter Police Department and has since been returned to its owner. The Exeter Police Department thanked the Kensington Police Department, Hampton Falls Police Department, Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office, New Hampshire State Police, and Hampton Police Department for their assistance in the search. Anyone with information regarding the suspect or the stolen vehicle is asked to contact Exeter police directly.