A 14-year-old boy who escaped police custody from an unspecified place in Darwin on Wednesday afternoon was caught on Thursday morning, NT Police said.

Director of communications Mark Wilton said the teen escaped custody at an unspecified time and place and was seen near the Puma service station on Holzerland Street in Malak at 1.25pm before he ran off.

On Wednesday evening members from Strike Force Trident, the dog operations unit, and general duties officers saw him multiple times and established a cordon, however the boy had not been caught.

Mr Wilton had said he was last seen heading in the direction of Fawcett Court in Malak and was described as being Aboriginal, 150cm tall with a slim build.

The reason he was in police custody was not disclosed however he was not believed to pose a risk to the public.

Police issued a statement at 8.30am Thursday saying he had been arrested a short time earlier in Malak.