Six Toddlers Escape Petah Tikva Daycare, Three Found Near Busy Road

Six toddlers, approximately two years old, escaped from a daycare center in Petah Tikva on Sunday without any staff noticing. The incident concluded with all children being located, though three were found about a kilometer away, near a busy road and having crossed a crosswalk, according to one mother's account. A passerby who encountered the unaccompanied children alerted the police.

The scope of the incident became clear when one mother, who had already left after dropping off her son, received a call from the daycare director about 15 minutes after she left. She was informed her son had left the premises and could not be located. "In one moment I went from a mother who left her son in a facility that is supposed to protect him and guard him, to a mother who has to search for her toddler son out of real fear for his life and well-being," the mother stated.

According to her, only one staff member was in the yard at the time, responsible for over 20 children, while two others were washing the floor. During this time, another mother arrived seeking a ride-on toy for her son. When she couldn't find one, she approached the staff member, and it was then discovered that the exit gate was left open and several children were missing.

Four toddlers exited on ride-on toys, and two walked out. During the search, one toddler was found on stairs near the emergency exit, and two others were located in a nearby playground. The remaining three were missing for about 15 minutes until they were found approximately a kilometer from the daycare. The mother reported that these three had crossed a crosswalk and reached a busy road area before a passerby noticed them and called the police.

All six toddlers were eventually found. A police complaint has been filed, and the incident has been reported to municipal and Ministry of Education officials responsible for early childhood education. The mother is demanding a thorough investigation into how six toddlers could leave the facility unsupervised and reach public areas. "This is not a routine incident, a small mistake, or a glitch that can be overlooked," she said. "Six toddlers left a facility that is supposed to ensure their safety, unsupervised, into a public area." She added, "As a mother, I entrusted my son to the daycare staff with one basic expectation: that while he is in their care, someone is watching over him and ensuring his safety."