Okay okay so maybe that wasn't the most believable story he could have told, but it was worth a shot, and he shrugs.

"Welcome to the city, serah. We don't have bears, but we have lots of sticky fingers."

Why she thinks she's going to get her money back, he doesn't know. As soon as she lets go, he's going to run. And she's going to have to let go if she wants to search him properly, or wants him to hand over the coin.

Besides, it's his now. She was stupid enough to have a coin purse a thief could dip into.