UPDATE: The two teenagers were caught Wednesday morning by Smith County deputies around 9:30 a.m. and are back in custody, according to Smith County Juvenile Services Director Ross Worley.

SMITH COUNTY, Texas (KETK) – Several law enforcement officials are searching for two 16-year-old males that escaped the custody of a juvenile detention center after authorities said they scaled a fence.

On Tuesday around 2:30 p.m., the two juveniles were in the welding shop of the H.O.P.E. Academy Vocational Residential Program when authorities said they ran away after scaling a fence while using welding gloves and jackets to help them “defeat the security wire on the fence.”

The juveniles are reportedly on probation for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and the Smith County Sheriff’s Office said they are conducting the search efforts with other law enforcement officials in the area. Authorities said the public is not in any danger at this time.

“If you have any information as to the whereabouts of either of these two offenders, please call 911 or your local law enforcement agency. More details will be disseminated they become available.”

Smith County Juvenile Services