I look for TITOs left behind, and if a penny or so i bring them home.
To be honest, i dont look for credits on the machine, I am looking for left behind cards, mostly high level cards.
What they did was "over the top" for a petty offence and was perhaps more for deterrent effect. perhaps thinking you MAY go "BUffalo Hunting" on a larger scale or return every day? IDK
I asked the similar question here years ago and was in formed by GT and others, it is techincally against the law, but very petty.

In my situation, I put quarter in a dollar machine and it came out under the bar in the coin return, that few knew exsisted. to my surprise, there were many quarters in there besides mine. I took the hand full, and was going to play the .25 machine next to me, but was now taken. so I left...or tried to, when security stopped me and wanted to arrest me. I asked them which quarter was mine!
I told them OK call metro. lets do this.
The casino manager was telling her to let it go and to let me go, but she could not! she was angry!I asked her
shall I put it back for the next person to grab?
WAS the money HERS as she took it home every night.
This made her more angry, which was my point.
I said
honey, your about to lose your job over $1.75, your not only fat, but ur also stupid
She was visibly shaking and wanted to hit me, and all 6 employees standing with me seen it
they let me go after a long verbal battle and told me my number was 86 and i was NEVER to return

I returned annually, every time i went to vegas just to walk in.
NOT to gamble, but to thumb my nose at them/her.

I suggest you do the same

picture appropriate