Little girl's daring attempt to 'steal' a teddy ends disastrously

They may not be as popular nowadays, but good old-fashioned vending machines still survive in some spots around Australia.

While a lot of them are stocked with chocolates, some are also filled with cuddly teddy bears and other plush toys.



It's a bit of a tradition for kids to try their luck with one of these claw machines in the hopes of miraculously nabbing a prize.

Unfortunately for four-year-old Poppy from Airlie Beach, Queensland, her mission came with an unexpected consequence…


Screen Shot 2022-12-23 at 7.41.04 AM.png
A little girl was stuck inside a claw machine after trying to 'steal' a teddy bear. Credit: Unsplash/Aj Garcia.



Mum Melanie Pike was at a pub when she got an urgent message from her daughters informing her that Poppy was trapped in the vending machine.

Sure enough, she was there trapped with a myriad of teddy bears and plush toys, looking sad as she pondered how to get herself out.

'My partner was shocked, but I just started laughing,' said Ms Pike, thinking of the funny side of the situation.



A quick-thinking Dad soon sprung into action with some careful instructions to help her out of the machine, eventually saving the day and teaching Poppy a valuable lesson at the same time.

'There ya go. That's why you don't steal from vending machines,' her father said once she was free, a statement that has certainly been imprinted on her brain for years to come.

Ms Pike also asked her daughter if she'd learned her lesson from the mishap. 'Are you going to steal anymore?' to which she quickly replied, 'No!'.
Key Takeaways

  • A four-year-old girl named Poppy found herself stuck inside a claw machine after trying to nab a teddy bear from it.
  • Her mother Melanie Pike was at a pub in Airlie Beach, Queensland, when she discovered her daughter stuck inside the machine.
  • Poppy was eventually rescued by her legs being gently pulled out of the machine.
Online, some had sympathy for Poppy and her plight, considering how hard it is actually to get an item from a claw machine.

'Only way you'd ever get one of those claw prizes is to steal it,' someone said.

Whether the teddy ended up in her hands or not, we think it's safe to say that this little girl will remember her misadventure for a very, very long time.



Poppy is probably not the only one with a story like this, and while it doesn't excuse the theft, we can all admit that it's rather a funny situation – one we could all learn from, not just kids!

And while we're still on the topic, if you've ever tried your luck at a claw machine before and come up empty, don't worry; you're not alone! Just watch the video below talking about how claw machines are 'rigged' to keep people coming back for more.


Credit: Vox.
 
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My granddaughter at four used to say I think that's ours grandma so I'll take it home.
It was a good try but it didn't work.
Four year olds are working out how the world works. They find their moral compass at five or six.
 
Pubs are not an appropriate venue to take a child. And why wasn't she being supervised by her parents?
The mum was at the pub and received a call from her other daughters… not sure if the machine was in the pub itself??
 
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They may not be as popular nowadays, but good old-fashioned vending machines still survive in some spots around Australia.

While a lot of them are stocked with chocolates, some are also filled with cuddly teddy bears and other plush toys.



It's a bit of a tradition for kids to try their luck with one of these claw machines in the hopes of miraculously nabbing a prize.

Unfortunately for four-year-old Poppy from Airlie Beach, Queensland, her mission came with an unexpected consequence…


View attachment 10912
A little girl was stuck inside a claw machine after trying to 'steal' a teddy bear. Credit: Unsplash/Aj Garcia.



Mum Melanie Pike was at a pub when she got an urgent message from her daughters informing her that Poppy was trapped in the vending machine.

Sure enough, she was there trapped with a myriad of teddy bears and plush toys, looking sad as she pondered how to get herself out.

'My partner was shocked, but I just started laughing,' said Ms Pike, thinking of the funny side of the situation.



A quick-thinking Dad soon sprung into action with some careful instructions to help her out of the machine, eventually saving the day and teaching Poppy a valuable lesson at the same time.

'There ya go. That's why you don't steal from vending machines,' her father said once she was free, a statement that has certainly been imprinted on her brain for years to come.

Ms Pike also asked her daughter if she'd learned her lesson from the mishap. 'Are you going to steal anymore?' to which she quickly replied, 'No!'.
Key Takeaways

  • A four-year-old girl named Poppy found herself stuck inside a claw machine after trying to nab a teddy bear from it.
  • Her mother Melanie Pike was at a pub in Airlie Beach, Queensland, when she discovered her daughter stuck inside the machine.
  • Poppy was eventually rescued by her legs being gently pulled out of the machine.
Online, some had sympathy for Poppy and her plight, considering how hard it is actually to get an item from a claw machine.

'Only way you'd ever get one of those claw prizes is to steal it,' someone said.

Whether the teddy ended up in her hands or not, we think it's safe to say that this little girl will remember her misadventure for a very, very long time.



Poppy is probably not the only one with a story like this, and while it doesn't excuse the theft, we can all admit that it's rather a funny situation – one we could all learn from, not just kids!

And while we're still on the topic, if you've ever tried your luck at a claw machine before and come up empty, don't worry; you're not alone! Just watch the video below talking about how claw machines are 'rigged' to keep people coming back for more.


Credit: Vox.
 

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