A video of a child appearing to 'crack the code' of claw machines has gone viral on Instagram, but some viewers have warned that the technique could trigger alarms and lead to arrest.
The clip, shared by @asianhappyhour, shows a young girl inserting her money and then attempting to win a plush toy positioned directly behind the drop box. As the claw lifted the toy to the level of the drop box, she yanked the machine towards her, causing the toy to fall into the winner's chute.
Commenters were divided, with one writing: 'When the machine cheats, so does the player.' Another said: 'Unfortunately, the arcade made us do this. Honest work won't reward you.' However, a third warned: 'I tried this once and almost got arrested,' claiming that moving an arcade game in certain ways can set off alarms.
Meanwhile, a claw machine expert known as Erik shared a legitimate trick on TikTok to increase winning odds. He explained that 'swinging the joystick' before the claw descends can manoeuvre it into a better position. He also recommended aiming for the body of the plushie rather than the head, a method he calls the 'Diaper Grab', which helps the claw balance the prize better.
Experts advise playing by the rules to avoid any trouble with arcade staff or security.
