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Toddler squeezes through White House fence

A Uniformed Division Secret Service police officer patrols in front of the White House in July. A toddler squeezed through the fence at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Thursday.Charles Dharapak/AP

WASHINGTON — Throngs of Secret Service agents are always on the watch for suspicious packages near the White House gates and anyone who might be looking to infiltrate the grounds.

But on Thursday night, they had a slightly smaller-scale security breach to contend with: a toddler who squeezed through the fence in the front of the residence.

The brief kerfuffle as agents scrambled to intercept the pint-sized intruder confirms what most people know: Toddlers are sneaky and fast. This one was promptly returned to his parents.

The little guy didn't get in any trouble — at least not with the agents.

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And he was unavailable for comment — to anyone — for at least a few more months.

''We were going to wait until he learned to talk to question him,'' Secret Service Agent Edwin Donovan said in a statement, ''but in lieu of that he got a timeout'' and was sent on his way with his parents.