Loose change, $76,000 of it, left at airport security checkpoints last year

NEW YORK (AP) -- The TSA collected $76,000 in loose change left at security checkpoints in New York City area's three major airports last year.

Transportation Security Administration workers found $42,550 in unclaimed spare change at Kennedy Airport alone. It took the top spot for any airport.

About $16,700 was collected at LaGuardia and Newark Liberty airports.

Los Angeles came in second with $41,500. Chicago Midway Airport was last with $9,280.

Spokesman Ross Feinstein says the TSA got authority from Congress in 2005 to spend unclaimed money on security operations.

Nationally, the TSA collected more than $675,000 in loose change in fiscal 2014, which ended Sept. 30.

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