The little boy's mother discovered that he was missing from their home and, after a frantic search, notified police.
Whilst the police launched a full-scale missing child search, however, patrons at a nearby bowling alley made a startling discovery.
There was a little boy trapped inside one of the claw-toy arcade machines.
Rachel Hildreth, an employee at the bowling alley, said they believe the boy climbed through the prize door, which even has a safety stop, and then up into the toy machine.
CLEARLY he had his eye on one of the toys inside - or, y'know, fancied recreating the adventures of Woody and Buzz in Toy Story.
Employees called the vendor of the machine, who brought a key to open the game and let the boy out - and police were flagged down and told the little lad was safe.
After the boy was released, completely unperturbed by the scene he'd caused, he was reunited with his mummy - and given a stuffed toy of his very own to keep.
Photos via KETV.com