Christchurch kindergarten shut down as police dog tracks suspected burglar

On the morning of [specific date], a kindergarten located in Merivale, a suburb in Christchurch, New Zealand, was temporarily closed due to a police operation in the area. The Merivale Kindy, which caters to children aged between two and six years old, was locked down for approximately 25 minutes around 10 a.m. local time.

According to a spokesperson from the Canterbury District Health Board, which oversees the kindergarten, the lockdown was a precautionary measure taken after a suspected burglar was tracked by a police dog in the vicinity of the kindergarten. The spokesperson confirmed that no children or staff were harmed during the incident and that the kindergarten resumed its normal operations shortly after the all-clear was given by the authorities.

The Canterbury Police confirmed that they were responding to a report of a break-in at a nearby property and that a suspect had been identified and pursued by their dog. The suspect managed to evade capture but was not believed to have entered the kindergarten premises during the incident.

The lockdown caused some disruption to the kindergarten's daily routine, with parents being informed of the situation and asked to pick up their children earlier than usual. The spokesperson from the Canterbury District Health Board apologized for any inconvenience caused and assured parents that the safety and wellbeing of the children was their top priority.

The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of security measures in educational institutions and the role that law enforcement agencies play in maintaining safety in the community. The Canterbury Police urged residents to report any suspicious activities in their neighborhoods to ensure the safety and security of everyone in the area.