Teacher busted for using his kid to steal prizes from arcade game

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A suspect who was caught on camera using the tiniest accomplice to help him steal prizes from an arcade game has been identified as a teacher — and he’s been removed from the classroom, police and school officials said.

Anthony Helinski, 34, of Lawrence, Massachusetts, surrendered to police in New Hampshire on Wednesday after he was spotted coaching his daughter on how to pilfer prizes from an arcade game at the Mall of Rockingham Park in Salem on Sept. 14. Helinski turned himself in with an attorney after learning that a warrant had been issued for his arrest, the Eagle-Tribune reports.

“This allegation is not in line with his reputation and character,” said Helinski’s attorney, Christopher Coughlin, adding that the teacher at Doherty Middle School in Andover is embarrassed by his actions.

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Footage of the incident shows Helinski telling his young daughter how to remove the prizes as she’s inside the game. Helinski’s son, who appears to be between 5 and 7 years old, then grabs the ill-gotten prize after the girl tosses it out of the machine, video shows. Helinski is also heard instructing his daughter on how to remove herself from inside of the game.

“Turn around … sit up,” Helinski told the girl. “Now you can stand up. Turn around, put your butt on the floor. Put your back against this.”

The girl is then seen poking her head out of the bottom of the machine.

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