The US Secret Service (USSS) has taken a suspect into custody after the White House was put on lockdown when a suspicious package was found near the grounds.

The USSS tweeted:"Suspicious package investigation continues; suspect in custody!"

It came less than an hour after an investigation into the suspicious package was announced and members of the public and media were moved to a safe distance.

"USSS is investigating suspicious package; security perimeter established and members of the public and media are being moved to [a] safe distance," another tweet said.

The north lawn was reportedly evacuated and NBC News reported the south lawn was on "lockdown" due to the package.

It comes after an intruder managed to roam the grounds for more than 15 minutes before being arrested on 10 March.

A California man carrying Mace roamed inside the secured White House perimeter before he was taken into custody near the South Portico entrance, the Secret Service acknowledged.

The man did not enter the White House, the agency said, without further explaining the delay in his capture or details about alarms, protocols or responses that may have failed.