article: A trespasser carrying a suspicious package jumped over the White House railings last night - the latest in a string of embarrassing security breaches to hit the US capital. The intruder was arrested after climbing into the grounds of the President's home at 10.25pm. Brian Leary of the United States Secret Service - the federal agency in charge of protecting the President - said the unnamed person was in custody in Washington DC and charges were pending. He added that the intruder, whose gender or age has not been released, had been 'immediately' apprehended by officers in the uniformed division of the Secret Service. Scroll down for video . A member of the Secret Service uniformed division and his K-9 dog patrol the perimeter of the White House . The package was examined and 'deemed to be harmless', according to a report by CNN. It is not known what it contained or why the fence was climbed. The trespasser entered the south side of grounds, which face the National Mall. Last September, a knife-wielding man managed to scale the fence on the north side and get into White House itself via an unlocked door. That incident prompted a review of the building's security. Just last week US officials announced that temporary steel spikes may be put on the tips of the railings. The 8ft-tall fence  is due to be replaced in the longer term with a permanent, more secure barrier, the details of which are still under discussion. Security fears: The 8ft-tall railings surrounding the President's residence are set to be replaced . Security in Washington DC in general has been the focus of much attention in recent months. Last Wednesday an illicit gyrocopter was able to land on the west lawn of the US Capitol. Its pilot Doug Hughes, a Florida mail worker, said he was protesting against the way political campaigns are funded. He is currently under house arrest and faces up to four years in prison if he is found guilty of unlawfully operating an unregistered aircraft and violating national defence airspace. Recent breach: A bomb-squad worker examines the gyrocopter that landed on the Capitol lawn last week . House arrest: The gyrocopter's pilot Doug Hughes . The 61-year-old told reporters outside his home: 'I had expected to be intercepted on the way.' He said when he flew over the capital city, 'people were not frightened at all. That part of it was surreal.' A full-scale security review in Washington was launched in the wake of the breach. The city's Secret Service is being investigated in a separate probe after two senior agents drove their car into a White House barrier on March 4. Mark Connolly, who is second in command of Barack Obama’s security detail, and George Ogilvie had allegedly been drinking when they crashed the government vehicle. They are  subject to an internal investigation. Earlier this month, a senior Secret Service supervisor was suspended over allegations of unwanted sexual advances toward a co-worker. And a uniformed division officer assigned to the Foreign Missions branch was recently charged with destroying property, according to NBC News.
highlights: Trespasser managed to get into grounds of presidential residence .
  Secret Service in Washington DC claim they made an 'immediate' arrest .
  Intruder's parcel was examined but deemed not to be a risk .
  Breach comes a few days after a gyrocopter landed on Capitol's lawn .
prediction: A trespasser 
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