Nicole Bailey, 23, who has no previous conviction was caught on CCTV, tracked down by police and hauled before the courts on a theft charge.
She initially denied she had taken it but after being presented with the footage she admitted what she had done.
The money belonged to a man who withdrew the cash at One Stop in Blurton, Stoke-on-Trent.
However, he dropped it and told staff when he realised he had lost it but the money was nowhere to be seen.
Prosecutor Ruth Bentley said: ‘Staff checked the CCTV which showed a female pick up the £20 note from a display in the store. The manager recognised the woman, who was a regular customer.’
The court heard police were called in and Bailey, who lives locally, attended a voluntary interview.
She initially denied taking it, but admitted it when she was shown the CCTV footage. Bailey, who has no previous convictions, went on to plead guilty to theft.
Simon Dykes, mitigating, said the matter should have been dealt with by a police caution.
He said: ‘She didn’t know who the money belonged to. People don’t realise picking up something you have found amounts to a theft. She has been quite naive in doing so.’
She’s now been given a conditional discharge and was ordered to pay £175 in costs and charges.
Now police have warned people to forget the old ‘finders keepers’ saying it’s a crime to keep money or goods someone else has lost.
Staffordshire Police Chief Inspector Karen Stevenson, said: ‘We would actively encourage any member of the public who picks up money that has been dropped to be honest and do the right thing by taking all reasonable steps to try and find the owner.’
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