Missing toddler found inside claw crane machine

A mother called 911 to report her 3-year-old missing from her apartment; it’s unclear how he got inside the coin-operated game at a bowling alley across the street from his apartment

April 17, 2014 05:19 AM

In this April 14, 2014 photo provided by Rachelle Hildreth, a 3-year-old boy plays with stuffed toys inside a claw crane game machine at a bowling alley in Lincoln, Neb. Police say a 24-year-old woman called 911 Monday afternoon because son was missing from her apartment. Authorities say the toddler was reunited, unharmed, with his mother after employees found him inside the coin-operated game. (AP Photo/Courtesy Rachell Hildreth)

The Associated Press

LINCOLN, Neb. — Authorities say a toddler has been reunited with his mother after employees found him playing inside a claw crane machine at a Nebraska bowling alley.

Lincoln police say a 24-year-old woman called 911 Monday afternoon because her 3-year-old son was missing from her apartment.

Employees at the bowling alley across the street meanwhile called police to say a small boy was playing with stuffed animals inside the coin-operated machine.

It was unclear how the boy ended up inside the claw crane machine. A representative from the vending machine company let him out and he was reunited with his mother a short time later. He was not hurt.

Police say the mother was not cited because she quickly reported that her son was missing and there were no indications of neglect.

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