ATKINSON, N.H. (AP) – Police took the idea of protective custody to a new level, when they volunteered to watch children so parents could get in some last-minute Christmas shopping.

Chief Philip Consentino and a half-dozen officers volunteered as babysitters at Atkinson Academy on Saturday. Twenty children had pizza and soda, created Christmas ornaments and watched Christmas programs while their parents shopped.

“We were trying to think of something to do for the community,” said Cpl. John Lapham. “We brainstormed and came up with this. All the parents are stressed this time of the year. We thought babysiting their children while they did some last-minute shopping would help them out.”