AN investigation will be conducted into the security at a minimum security prison near Oberon after two prisoners escaped yesterday.
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More than 24 hours had passed since Matthew Hayne, 18, and Eli Heigh, 18, were last seen at the Oberon Correctional Centre, and police were yet to locate them late yesterday.
The correctional centre is at Shooters Hill, south of Oberon.
The two men were last seen at 12.25am yesterday during a check.
They were discovered missing less than an hour later.
Police issued descriptions of the prisoners following their escape, and community members have been asked to be alert.
Hayne is described as approximately 180 centimetres tall and Caucasian in appearance.
He is serving a sentence for reckless wounding and assaulting a law enforcement officer (not police).
Heigh is described as approximately 175cm tall and also Caucasian in appearance.
He is serving a sentence for aggravated break and enter and break and enter.
NSW Police media said both prisoners were last seen wearing prison green clothing.
A Corrective Services NSW spokesman would not confirm how the two men walked out of the prison, but said the Shooters Hill facility has locked accommodation units and a high perimeter fence.
“The two minimum security escapees will be sent to a maximum security correctional centre upon recapture,” he said.
“Corrective Services NSW conducts investigations and security reviews of all escapes.
“NSW Police Force also investigates such incidents.”
Chifley Local Area Command duty officer Inspector Mark Wall said officers had been to the home towns of the two men – Newcastle and Goulburn respectively – but the prisoners had not yet been located.
Inspector Wall said Hayne had already served the majority of his sentence before he escaped, while Heigh was due to be released early next year.
He said the prisoners had been assessed and deemed suitable for a minimum security classification correctional centre upon their entry into the Shooters Hill facility.
Police have urged members of the public to be extra vigilant in securing their premises and vehicles and, under no circumstances, to attempt to approach or detain either of the men.
If members of the public do see the men, they are asked to contact police immediately on triple-0 or contact Bathurst Police directly on 6332 8699.