Police picked up two five-year-old children who escaped from a childcare facility in Canberra.
A passer-by spotted the two young children near Dickson College, in Canberra’s north, and contacted police about 1.15pm on Monday.
NewsWire understands the boys used a box to jump over a fence.
Police found them and contacted their parents, who collected them soon after.
“The boys were not injured or harmed during their time away from the childcare centre,” an ACT Policing spokesman said.
Northside Community Service chief executive Dan English apologised to parents and confirmed there was an investigation underway into an incident involving the two children who left unaccompanied from the Majura Early Childhood Centre in Dickson.
“Northside acknowledges the distress this incident has caused the children, their parents and other families and recognises the seriousness of the incident,” he said.
“Northside takes the trust families place in us, and our responsibility for the safety and wellbeing of children in our care, very seriously.”
The service provider has appointed an external investigator to establish how the incident occurred and recommend safety improvements at the childcare centre.
“Following initial interviews held with some centre staff last night, Northside has taken appropriate action, while the investigation remains underway,” Mr English said.
“Northside is working closely with the children’s parents, ACT Policing and the relevant regulatory authorities.”