Police Stop Search for Burglar Who Absconded From UK Prison After Week-Long Manhunt

Police in South Yorkshire have announced they are no longer searching for a convicted burglar who absconded from a prison in Doncaster, bringing an abrupt update to a public appeal that had urged residents to help locate him.

Steven Reynolds, 46, had been the subject of a wanted appeal launched by South Yorkshire Police after he failed to return to HMP Hatfield, a prison in Doncaster, following a period of release on temporary licence. Authorities said Reynolds had been serving a sentence for multiple counts of burglary and theft before the incident.

According to police, Reynolds absconded on October 7, 2026, after failing to report back to the prison at the required date and time. The circumstances prompted officers to seek the public’s assistance in locating him and returning him to custody to continue serving his sentence.

On October 15, police appealed for information and warned members of the public not to approach Reynolds if they saw him. Instead, anyone who spotted him was instructed to call emergency services on 999. The appeal included identifying details intended to help people recognize the wanted man, as authorities worked to establish his whereabouts.

The following day, however, South Yorkshire Police issued a new update confirming that officers were “no longer seeking” Reynolds. The force thanked everyone who had shared the appeal and assisted in spreading the information throughout local communities.

The announcement did not explain why the search had ended, and the police statement reported by the Doncaster Free Press did not specify whether Reynolds had been located, returned to custody or whether another development had changed the status of the investigation. Without further official information, the precise circumstances behind the decision remain unclear.

The case highlights the role local residents can play when police issue appeals for wanted individuals. Sharing verified information can help authorities reach a wider audience, while following police instructions—particularly warnings not to approach a wanted person—can help prevent unnecessary risks.

For now, police have confirmed only that they are no longer actively seeking Reynolds’ whereabouts. Further details about his status were not included in the published update.

Source: Doncaster Free Press