Claw‑Machine Caper: A Dad‑Dad Dad Moment
So there you are, browsing the arcade at a New Hampshire mall, until Anthony Helinski shows up with a DIY plan that would make any engineering student roll their eyes. A 34‑year‑old school teacher at the time, he apparently thought there was a way to “beat” that ever‑frustrating claw machine—in a way that included a family‑friendly twist.
The Plot Thickens (and the Child Claws In)
- Act 1: Helinski spots a claw machine and immediately decides to recruit his daughter as the pawn.
- Act 2: He squats in front of the machine, “briefs” his little sidekick who hides inside, and mic‑checks the toddler’s every move.
- Act 3: Results? A Nintendo DS and a Nintendo Switch get passed to Helinski while he shouts, “Hurry up!”
- Act 4: The toddler—now supposedly stuck inside—gets hurried out with a triumphant “Yes, it works!”
Hey, if you’re all about bringing the joy of gaming to the extreme, you definitely brought a whole new meaning to “child‑endangerment” with that “inside the machine” trick.
Police Alert: Help Needed
The video landed on the Salem Police Department’s Facebook page, and they’re asking the public to help identify the guy who, frankly, shows up to the mall like it’s a playground for mischief.
Arrest & Fallout
- Trespassing, child endangerment, and the obvious theft of the two Nintendo consoles.
- The school’s administrative office put him on leave—no wonder a teacher was forced to go to the point of hovering in a claw machine.
- Helinski turned himself in, got bail, and has a court date set for October 29.
It’s a bizarre chapter in the everyday saga of mall adventures—definitely a story that will make people chuckle, but also a reminder that even the most child‑friendly setting can mask real mischief.
