Anyone who thinks that the police would make ANY effort to return money to someone who doesn't have ID is nuts. That just won't happen. They'd keep it for themselves and buy donuts or something.

If I found the wallet, I'd wait around to see if anyone came back for it. But if they didn't, I'd take it and use it to pay for my bills.

I've lots money plenty of times (not my wallet, actual bills that fell out from my pockets and stuff) and I don't curse the person who might have found the money. It's like, "Crap, this sucks. Oh well."

If I lost my entire wallet, credit cards, ID, and everything. Then I would hope that someone would turn it in somewhere and I can get it back. And if someone finds it and doesn't turn it in, they are a stupid cow. But just a wallet, no ID, and just the money? Taking that is nowhere near the same thing, especially if you make some sort of effort to look around and see if anyone could have potentially dropped it, or wait to see if someone comes back for it.

Handing it over to the police is useless. Might as well give it to charity if you're gonna give it away.

If it were a larger sum of money, like $500+, then it'd be a bigger deal.

$200 = This sucks.
$500+ = omg, panic.

There's a big difference.