Missing Nebraska toddler found safe inside bowling alley's arcade claw machine

A 3-year-old boy feared missing by his mother was found safe and sound, playing with stuffed animals inside an arcade claw machine in Lincoln, Neb., Tuesday.

Police were called to a home in Lincoln on a report of a missing child, according to WOWT TV in Omaha.

At the same time, employees across the street at Madsen's Bowling & Billiards called police. They said a customer had alerted them that a young child was stuck inside a coin-operated claw machine.

Police found the missing boy happily playing with stuffed animals inside the machine.

The boy's mother told police she was in the apartment bathroom and that the boy must have slipped out of an unlocked door. Vending company workers were called and freed the boy from the claw machine without injury and reunited with his mother.

The workers awarded the boy with a souvenir stuffed animal.

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

This story was originally published April 16, 2014 at 7:21 AM with the headline "Missing Nebraska toddler found safe inside bowling alley's arcade claw machine."