Given that Mr. Petti specifically asked about the security of the money through the machine, it is not credible that they claimed not to know anything about it after-the-fact. It sounds like a professional con-man or thief has given them the run-around. And there are many professional con-men and thieves working for the TSA. Over 600 arrests for thefts from passengers.

Just last month a TSA Officer in Hawaii pleaded guilty to stealing money right out of purses at checkpoints, so it's certainly plausible the TSA took it (and I believe they did.)

Regardless, they have a duty to protect the Public. And if someone tells a TSA office there's a valuable item in the bin, the TSA should have kept an eye on it (and not their sticky fingers). It is their fault whether or not they were actually the ones who stole it.