FORT COLLINS — Three 13-year- old girls were convinced they hit the jackpot earlier this year when they burst through the door with a bag stuffed with money they found in a nearby field.

“We threw the money on the floor and it was flying around in the air,” said Amy Moreng.

“But we knew this wasn’t our money, and it would have been a little weird walking around with it stuffed in our wallets knowing that,” added Claire Hooker. “So we called my parents.”

Amy and Claire, along with their friend Elise Forzley, hit another jackpot of sorts Tuesday, when they were recognized for their honesty by Fort Collins interim Police Chief Jerry Schiager.

Schiager gave each girl a letter of appreciation for reporting the $1,100 in stolen money, which led to the arrest and conviction of an armed robber.

“We appreciate what you did,” Schiager said. “If there were more people like you in the world, we’d all be a little better off.”

Each teen also was given $100 by Renee Jelinek, the owner of Plato’s Closet, where the money was taken from.

“They are wonderful,” Jelinek said. “I can’t thank them enough, and I’d like to thank their parents for instilling in them the idea to do the right thing.”

Plato’s Closet was robbed Jan. 12 by a man wearing a mask and carrying what appeared to be a gun, police said.

Chad Allen Mahan, 26, of Windsor was arrested later that night, but police weren’t able to locate the money he allegedly took or the gun he supposedly used.

A little over a month later, the three girls were walking through a field behind Claire’s house because one of them thought she saw money there.

“All of a sudden, we saw money just flying around, and we started grabbing at it,” Claire said.

“I picked up a $100 bill and I yelled, ‘Is this real?’ ” Elise said.

The Lesher Middle School students found a bag, stuffed it with the cash and ran back to Claire’s house. They started counting — and thought they had more than $2,000.

They called Claire’s parents, who subsequently called police.

“We started counting it, and we quickly knew we had to call the police,” said Claire’s dad, Mike.

Police searched the area where the money was found. They recovered more cash, a simulated weapon and a mask believed to have been used in the robbery. The evidence they gathered helped to prosecute and later convict Mahan for armed robbery.

The money was returned to Plato’s Closet. And the girls were lauded for doing the right thing.

“They are pretty good kids,” Mike Hooker said. “We’re pretty proud of them.”

Monte Whaley: 720-929-0907 or mwhaley@denverpost.com