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GREENSBORO — On the night of Friday the 13th, thieves stole seven smiles from Room 404 at Gillespie Park Elementary School.

They took them right off the faces of third- and fourth-graders — all special needs students — who arrived to Susan Bass’s classroom the following Monday morning to find their beloved arcade claw machine gone, along with about $10 in candy.

Playing on the small machine for a prize each Friday was a weekly reward for a job well-done in the classroom — an extra incentive for the students to try their hardest.

“They were so upset, there were tears,” Bass said. “It was hard for them to understand why someone would do this.”

But this Monday — thanks to the generosity and determination of two rookie Greensboro police officers and a family in Cary — the smiles were returned.

To the students’ surprise, officers Chris Alexander and Adam Crozier rolled a new claw machine into their classroom. It was stocked with teddy bears, stuffed ducks, lions and more.

“The claw machine!” one student screamed. Nearby, a little girl’s eyes teared with joy.

It was Alexander who, along with his training officer, made the initial report on the break-in.

He saw the disappointment on the students’ faces. He knew something had to be done.

“I had to explain to the kids that some bad people came in and took their stuff,” said Alexander, who took the break-in personally because he has two children at home with cerebral palsy.

“I went on a mission ... to find another (claw machine). I work with some really good officers who would kick in money to be able to buy something like that.”

That night he went on Craigslist and found a man in Cary asking $300 for a 61/2-foot-tall claw machine that he wanted to unload. It was in his garage.

Alexander replied to the ad and shared the story about the classroom break-in with the seller, Timm Miller.

“I felt that with the police department and the efforts they go through to help people out — this was a special deal,” Miller said.

“I made the decision right there on the spot that something had to happen, and I donated the machine. The effort of this police officer was outstanding.”

So last Friday, Alexander got together with Crozier — his buddy from rookie school — on their day off, and they made the 70 mile trip to Cary and returned that afternoon with the claw machine.

On Monday morning, they wheeled it down the elementary school halls to the “ooohs” and “ahhhs” of children passing by.

They were met with huge smiles and hugs once they hit the doorway of Room 404.

“This is way beyond the call of duty,” Bass said.

“This is so unbelievable. It’s touched our hearts, and we couldn’t believe the officers would do this. It tells you what generous hearts these policemen have.”

Alexander said the smiles on the children’s faces made the effort worthwhile.

“You pay a dollar, you play the lottery and win a million — I have that feeling,” he said.

Contact Ryan Seals at 373-7077 or ryan.seals@news-record.com