Police believe two armed carjackings at two Madison daycares are linked to the same two suspects.

"We haven't really seen this in the history of the city where we've had armed carjackings at daycare centers," said Joel DeSpain, Madison Police Public Information Director.

The carjackings happened over a 24-hour period.

"We have good leads and we're hopeful that these people are going to be arrested," DeSpain added. "I think people should be vigilant right now."

The first

happened Wednesday evening while a father picked up his daughter from La Petite Academy, on Schroeder Road on the city's westside.

"We had a father picking up his three year old and had a gun pointed at his head," said DeSpain.

The next day

took place at Great Beginnings Arbor Hill, a Reach Dane daycare center.

Police say a 15-year old was inside the vehicle with two other children waiting for the female driver, who was inside the daycare picking up a child.

"One of the robbers put the gun to the 15-year-old and he was able to get the two younger kids out of the car safely," DeSpain said.

Reach Dane Branch Director Jen Bailey said the family is shaken up.

"Obviously, they are very scared as to what happened," Bailey said. "I think the children are certainly concerned and upset."

Police believe the suspects are targeting daycare centers to steal cars left unattended.

"We've got these people who have been predators in terms of lurking in these lots of these two daycare centers and taking people's cars at gunpoint," said DeSpain.

In both scenarios, he believes the victims did the right thing which is why no one was physically hurt.

"They listened to what these robbers were saying, they complied, and they kept themselves safe," he explained.

Bailey says she hopes the daycare can work with police to make the area more safe.

"This is a neighborhood where we've had some previous safety concerns," she said. "There's been some gang violence and domestic incidents in the area."

Reach Dane serves low income families and works to build a sense of safety and trust.

"It's very challenging when incidents like this happen to help repair that sense of trust and safety," Bailey added.

Police are hopeful they will catch the suspects soon.