Searches for missing British actor Julian Sands continued by air only as authorities used new technology that can detect electronic devices and credit cards.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said it was “hopeful” that the technology could more accurately identify an area where efforts would be focused.
It came as the department said new searches for Sands on higher ground were still not possible due to poor conditions.
Attempts to locate the actor are nearing the end of their second week after he was first reported missing in the Baldy Bowl area of the San Gabriel mountains in Southern California on January 13.
On Wednesday, the sheriff’s department tweeted: “The search for Julian Sands continues by air only.
“California Highway Patrol – Valley Division Air Operations from Auburn, California, is currently assisting us with the search using a Recco device.
“Recco technology can detect Recco reflective materials, electronics and in some cases credit cards.
“We hope our @CHP_HQ partners, Officer Hertzell & Calcutt, can pinpoint an area where we can focus our search efforts, and we thank them for their assistance.”
Infrared devices have also been used by authorities before, but to no effect.
On Tuesday, the force said it had previously conducted “numerous” land and air searches in low-lying areas, but found no evidence of the actor’s location, although a second hiker was found missing from the same area.
A department spokesperson told the PA news agency that although site searches for the second hiker provided an opportunity for secondary scans, Sands was still not located.
They added that it is still not possible to search for more sites in higher altitude areas due to conditions.
“The Sheriff’s Department is closing the second full week of search for missing hiker Julian Sands,” said the online statement Tuesday.
“A lot of ground and air search operations have been carried out. As of now, Mr Sands has not been found and no evidence of his current location has been found.
“The search will continue as long as the weather and ground conditions allow,” he said.
“Regardless of the precautions taken by hikers, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department strongly advises hikers to avoid dangerous mountain areas such as Mt Baldy at this time,” the statement said.
This came after Sands’ family lauded the “heroic” efforts of the Californian authorities conducting the search.
In a statement shared by the sheriff’s department, his family said they were “deeply impressed” by the support they have received in the days since his disappearance.
Sands was born in Yorkshire and moved to Los Angeles in 2020.
His debut role was as the free-spirited George in the period drama A Room With A View, opposite Helena Bonham Carter.
He later switched to the horror genre, starring in movies like Warlock and Arachnophobia, and in dramatic episodes on television.
More recently, he played the chief medical officer in the 2021 Jack Lowden and Peter Capaldi-led drama Benediction.
From 1984 to 1987, Sands was married to future editor of the Evening Standard and Today, Sarah Sands, and they had a son. He also has two daughters with journalist Evgenia Citkowitz, whom he married in 1990.