Two Bismarck boys who just wanted to go swimming at a south Bismarck hotel took an adventure across town this week, police say.

The parents of the two friends, 9 and 10, reported that the boys had run away on Tuesday, said Lt. Dan Donlin of the Bismarck Police Department.

Since their parents reported them as runaways and police had enough information to know they hadn't been abducted, no Amber Alert was sent out, Donlin said.

"We knew they were just out running around," he said.

The boys had been grounded, and their parents wouldn't let them go to the hotel to swim, he said.

"Apparently, they get into trouble when they're together," Donlin said.

The boys were found at the hotel Wednesday and gave their account of how they spent their time, Donlin said.

The boys said they rode their bikes to the hotel and went swimming, then visited a store, Donlin said.

The boys said they were afraid to go home because they knew they'd be in trouble, Donlin said. So, they said they wandered into an apartment building and slept in the laundry room, Donlin said.

When they woke up, the youngsters ate continental breakfast at another hotel, Donlin said. After their meal, they visited more stores in south Bismarck, where they stole several items, he said.

The boys returned to the hotel to swim again, Donlin said. Hotel staff spotted the boys and called the police, he said.

Managers at the hotel were not available for comment Friday.

The boys were released into their parents' custody, Donlin said.

The 10-year-old was charged Thursday with shoplifting for stealing goggles and beef jerky during the boys' visit to one of the stores, Donlin said.

He said the 9-year-old probably will be charged when he and his family return from out of town.

"We pretty much leave it up to the stores whether they want them charged," Donlin said.