Six Toddlers Escape Petah Tikva Daycare, Found Near Busy Road

Six toddlers, all around two years old, escaped from a daycare center in the Neve Gan neighborhood of Petah Tikva on Sunday without adult supervision. Three of the children were found approximately one kilometer away from the facility, having reportedly crossed a crosswalk and wandered near a busy road until a citizen noticed them and called the police. All six children were eventually located.

The incident occurred in the morning hours. According to one mother, about fifteen minutes after she dropped off her son, the daycare manager called to inform her that her son had left the premises and could not be found by staff. "In one moment, I went from a mother who left her son in a framework that is supposed to protect him, to a mother who has to search for her toddler out of fear for his life," she recounted.

She described the scene as one staff member supervising over 20 children in the yard, while two others were washing the floor. Another mother entered the facility looking for a ride-on toy for her son. During the search for the toy, it was discovered that the exit gate was left open and several children had already left. Four toddlers reportedly exited on ride-on toys, and two on foot.

One toddler was found near the daycare's emergency exit, and two others were located in a nearby playground. The remaining three were missing for about 15 minutes before being found about a kilometer away, near a busy road. A citizen alerted the police after observing them wandering unsupervised.

A complaint has been filed with the police, and municipal education officials have been notified. The mother who spoke to the press is demanding a comprehensive investigation into how the children were able to leave the facility, emphasizing the basic expectation of safety for children in daycare.