Six Toddlers Escape Daycare Center in Petah Tikva, Three Found a Kilometer Away

Six toddlers, all around two years old, left a daycare center in Petah Tikva unattended on Sunday morning. Three of the children were found approximately one kilometer from the facility, having crossed a crosswalk and wandered near a busy road. The incident occurred shortly after parents dropped off their children.

One mother reported receiving a call from the daycare director about 15 minutes after leaving, stating her son had left the premises and staff could not locate him. She described the terrifying experience of realizing her child was missing and potentially in danger. According to her account, at the time of the incident, only one staff member was supervising over 20 children in the yard, while two others were washing the floor.

The breach was discovered when another mother arrived looking for a toy and, during a search, it was found that the exit gate was left open and several children had already left. Four toddlers reportedly left on ride-on toys, and two walked out. One child was found near an emergency exit, and two others were in a nearby playground.

After a 15-minute search, the remaining three children were located about a kilometer away. A passerby noticed the children wandering without adult supervision and alerted the police. A complaint has been filed with the police, and municipal education officials have been notified. The mother is demanding a thorough investigation into how the children were able to leave the facility unsupervised, emphasizing that this is not a minor incident.