Tiny Intruder: Toddler Squeezes Through White House Fence

WASHINGTON, DC — A toddler used his tiny stature for a sneaky cause Tuesday when he squeezed through a fence in front of the White House before U.S. Secret Service police officers snatched him up, reports said.

According to a report by The Hill, the unidentified child made it through a fence on the north side of the complex, leaving his parents on Pennsylvania Avenue as he made a run for the North Lawn.

He didn't make it far before officers intercepted the miniature intruder.

“The Secret Service Uniformed Division today encountered a curious young visitor along the White House north fence line who briefly entered White House grounds. The White House security systems instantly triggered Secret Service officers and the toddler and parents were quickly reunited,” Secret Service Chief of Communications Anthony Guglielmi told The Hill.

Access to the complex was briefly restricted while officers conducted the reunion. Officers briefly questioned the parents before allowing them to continue on their way.

It may be the first successful intrusion onto the complex since the White House fence was doubled in height to roughly 13 feet in recent years after a series of security breaches. While taller, the new fence has an additional inch of space between pickets, for a total of 5½ inches.

Older children have sometimes become stuck in the iconic barrier, which has also been the scene of demonstrations, with protesters chaining themselves to the fence.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.