EASTERN WAKE COUNTY — Several local schools went on lockdown this morning as law enforcement officers searched for suspects in an armed robbery.

Students at East Wake and Knightdale high schools and East Wake Middle were placed on lockdown about 10 a.m. Other schools — including Wendell Middle, Forestville Road Elementary, Lockhart Elementary, Hodge Road Elementary and Knightdale Elementary were placed on lockdown a short time later — according to Wake County schools spokeswoman Samiha Khanna.

Wake County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Phyllis Stephens said she could not confirm the location of the armed robbery. School officials were notified of the investigation and told to place the schools on lockdown.

Police radio traffic indicated there were four suspects in the armed robbery.

Officers brought police dogs to the scene to help with the search.

Some of those schools were placed on a code red lockdown, which was later loosened to a code yellow lockdown. A code red lockdown requires students to remain in the classrooms they are in, while under a code yellow lockdown, students are allowed to move around inside a building, but are not allowed to go outside.

A deputy stationed at East Wake High School was diverting all traffic away from the school about 10:30 a.m.

Khanna, the schools’ spokeswoman, said the schools would remain on lockdown until law enforcement officers tell the school system it is safe to resume normal operations.

By noon lockdowns were lifted at all schools.

The school system placed robo calls to parents of students in the affected schools.

Whitfield: 919-829-4823