PELHAM – A woman dropping off her nephew at an elementary school yesterday morning triggered a security lockdown at three local schools after she went inside to use the bathroom.

When school officials didn't recognize the 40-year-old woman, they called police at 8:05 a.m. and went into lockdown before classes began, police said.

The woman exited the building to avoid police because she was driving with a suspended license.

"She ended up going out one of the side exits and headed to the high school," Pelham police Lt. Gary Fisher said.

After searching the Pelham Elementary School building and realizing that the woman had probably left already, police took measures to lock down the nearby middle school and high school campuses before the woman was found at the high school.

Police called off the lockdowns after questioning the woman, and school schedules immediately returned to normal.

During the incident, which was resolved within an hour, children just arriving at the elementary school were kept from entering the building and everyone inside was prevented from leaving, Fisher said.

Pelham police received help from Salem police, New Hampshire State Police and the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Department.

Police withheld the identity of the 40-year-old woman because no charges were being filed.

Fisher commended school officials for quickly calling police.

"They acted very accordingly and contacted us appropriately," Fisher said.