Teens left unlocked detention centre

Two teenagers accused of robbery with violence in Manitoba simply walked out of the Regina youth detention centre where they were being held.

The youths, whose names have not been released because of provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act, were arrested March 15 by RCMP in Brandon.

The two, a 14-year-old and a 17-year-old, facecharges relating to the violent robbery of a convenience store and liquor vendor in the small town of Alexander, Man.,about 20 kilometres west of Brandon.

The Stahl's Food Mart was the target of robbers around noonon March 15. Police say four youths, including the two from Saskatchewan, ordered the clerk to the floor and proceeded to help themselves to as much liquor as they could carry, plus some money from the cash register.

They took off in a stolen car, but police caught up with them later in the day at a nearby First Nation after receiving a tip.

Everyone involved in the food mart robbery was charged, including the two escapees from Saskatchewan, as well as a 15-year-old from the Sioux Valley First Nation in Manitoba and a 19-year-old from Brandon who is a relative of two of the boys.

CBC News contacted officials from theCorrections, Public Safety and Policing Ministryin Saskatchewan and learned that the two escapees had been in what was described as "open custody" at the Paul Dojack Youth Detention Centre.

"The two youths left the open custody unit at Paul Dojack at approximately 4 a.m. on March 14," Judy Orthner, a spokeswoman for the ministry, said in an emailto CBC News. "The doors on the open custody unit are not locked, allowing youth to slip away or bolt if they so wish."

Orthner added that police in Regina were notified immediately.

Stolen car found in Manitoba

According to RCMP in Manitoba, it is likely the two Saskatchewan teens left Regina in a stolen car. RCMP said a vehicle with Saskatchewan licence plates was located near where another car was stolen in Brandon.

The distance from Regina to Alexander, Man., is about 340 kilometres.

Orthner said members of the public were not notified about the escape, but the incident would be included in a regular report to the minister.

RCMP in Manitoba said all four youths had been detained in custody in Brandon, pending their court appearances.