It's shocking that there is so much cynicism about the integrity of UA employees or airport police.

And I'm dismayed few people suggest following proper procedure.

Certainly, not everyone is a saint, but I think that only a minority of any group is dishonest, UA employees included.

UA flight crew handle cash on board (drinks, BOB meals). There are trusted with this. And I'm sure there are spot-checks to make sure they don't succumb to the temptation of pocketing $5 for a drink, claiming it was a passenger in F.

It's a sad reflection that people presume a level of integrity within one of the world's top airlines that would be more expected of a Nigerian government official.

Finding a wallet or other valuables is not a unique occurrence that airlines have never encountered before. An organization as mature and complex as UA (whatever its faults)has developed effective lost and found procedures. Not that they'd be flawless, but I would trust these procedures more than I would any Rube Goldberg, home-grown, half-baked scheme. What's the objecive, basically hoping nobody claims the item and you, yourself, get to keep the cash? Now who's ethically challenged?

I'd check with an FA or GA about lost and found procedures and follow them. This would be doing the right thing and your social responsibility ends at this point and you can sleep safely.