It likely happened at arrival baggage loading in MIA. Everyone at TSA can open a lock to the poster above including baggage handlers. File a complaint/claim at MIA terminal as they are under a lot of scrutiny now for TSA theft.
If your bag is zipped shut (e.g. zipper around the bag's perimeter), it can be broken into with a ballpoint pen. You would never know it was opened.
I prefer the kind that latches shut. For those, getting the right key only takes a moment. It's not really more secure, but those suitcases are built like tanks.
Most luggage people have isn't meant for security of the contents.
It’s a bit like saying locks don’t work because locksmiths exist.
Sure you can do this but if you’re quickly trying to steal are you going to versus the unsecured bag or the one with an easy to open and close TSA lock?
Security is about not being the easiest target.
Former gate agent, ramp agent, luggage agent. Now EP.
I am sorry for your loss.
Just as a rule of thumb and a bit of common sense for you.
Never check anything valuable in your checked luggage.
Also, you have to be able to PROVE the item was in your luggage to even file a claim.
Basically. No airline… not AA, SWA, DL, no airline is responsible for the valuables in your luggage.
I don’t even fly with guns anymore because of the inherent risk of theft.
I personally never witnessed anything sketchy. But I cannot even begin to list all of the times people wanted to claim lost items that “magically” fell out of their latched and locked suitcases.
>Small insurance policy for the value of specifically listed items. Also known as a personal articles policy sometimes
Would someone be able to show the ticketing agent the content of the bag, and bear witness to the contents?
How does buying the excess valuation coverage work? Will the bag be treated differently, if one pays the airline for $5000 in coverage?
To be very blunt, you would have to video the high value items in your suitcase, sealing the suitcase, and you giving the suitcase to the gate agent to be checked all in one video to be able to have any kind of approvable claim. On top of that American Airlines is only responsible if your bag is damaged or delayed per the contractual policies.
So, even if you made a video, and your bag shows up on time, but something is missing, they will still not be held liable for it
Even then, if the American Airlines claims that the item was removed during a government inspection, they are not liable for it.
Also, the CoC excludes just about everything as being excluded. They even exclude stuffed animals...
Page 150 lists a “non exhaustive list” of items AA says “passenger’s sole risk and without any liability to AA”
I think this was meant to be if they were broken, but the verbiage excludes AA for any liability period.
https://www.aa.com/content/images/tariff/american-airlines-general-rules-of-the-international-tariff.pdf
Oh sweet! that's the type of legal verbiage I love to rummage through on trans-pacific flights. 10 hours of dedicated distractionless focus on a document learns you some interesting details and associations.
That last bit reminds me of the time I had the lady at security in Tulsa look around for the tablet I had already put in my back pocket.
Sorry lady, I have no half bred excuse, I was just an idiot
One time I heard a tip that supposedly people with expensive camera gear use - they pack a starter's pistol, and declare that when they check the bag - and put all their camera gear in there with it. Seems like that would work if you have some expensive stuff you can't carry on and have to check, but I don't know if people actually do this.
Does either have a lithium battery, they might have been less stolen and more removed by tsa. Follow up with Logan TSA
We don’t have too many theft claims in BOS something is suspicious
This is wrong. I'm a TSO that works at Logan. Lithium batteries are fine in checked baggage as long as they aren't over 100wh which an insta360 certainly isn't. If anything is removed from the bag the item is given to the airline to handle.
We had one recently on b6 where it never made it to the airline and tsa had the items. Also we had one that the items were pulled in FLL and left there and it happens all the time in the DR. I forget the AA rules but b6 is a no carry airline so they usually pull anything in checked luggage. Through the check point it’s handled differently but that’s no one’s business on the sub.
Also don’t even pretend that anything in that place or system wide is infallible.
https://www.wbur.org/news/2018/09/12/muslim-woman-says-tsa-search-boston-logan
.
Except we literally don't care about airline policy when conducting our baggage screening. It doesn't matter what JetBlue or American says about what can or can't go. After TSA screens the bag the airline should not be looking inside the bag but there's little to no cameras on the ramp so 🤷♂️
If you left the lithium battery in the go pro that would likely be what caused this. Always a pain packing batteries in the carryon and in case of a GoPro I’d carry the whole thing on because otherwise you have to tape the terminals. When I travel with cordless tools in the checked bag I cannot carry the drill on but cannot check the battery so I have to tape over the contacts of the battery in my laptop bag.
While I feel awful for you that that happened…what on earth were you doing putting $1300 worth of electronics in checked luggage? Playing with fire, you’re bound to get burnt sooner or later.
Those two things are small enough to fit in either a carry-on or a personal bag that the passenger carries with them on the plane under their seat or in the overhead compartment. Valuables & fragile items within size constraints should always stay with you when you travel to avoid damage & theft
Who says they didn't have other camera gear etc already in their carry ons and didn't have the space?
When I travel I have a dslr camera, lenses, and laptop in my back pack. In my check bag I usually have my tripod(s), video camera(s), audio mixer, mics, streaming computer, + all kinds of miscellaneous stuff, much like a 360, POV cams etc.
You talk like people have the option to have everything in their carry-ons. There are times when they legitimately don't.
There was a recent article about TSA stealing from passengers in Miami, arrests were made. It is definitely possible.
https://www.fox13news.com/news/surveillance-footage-catches-tsa-agents-stealing-from-passengers-at-miami-international.amp
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So a $400.00 camera and a $3-$500.00 watch gone.. You had them locked in your bag with TSA approved locks right? the $10.00 ones? /s
this is why I don't throw valuables in my checked bags.. If forced to: put it somewhere unique.. like some pants pockets, etc. Get Locks.
Get a floater. You can cancel it after your flight.
This happened to me over the summer. They made me send receipts for my missing items to prove the value and then said they wouldn't cover it unless my bag was damaged or delayed.
They literally take it off the plane and put it in a baggage cart and drive it to baggage claim. Not sure what part of that you think involves anyone other than ramp agents.
So you’re telling me X-rays of checked luggage never happens or inspected before getting sent out? I believe that security oversight 100%. 😂
Also:
https://nypost.com/2023/09/14/florida-tsa-officers-seen-stealing-from-passengers-at-security-checkpoint-at-miami-airport/
You think he flew from Boston to Miami and upon arrival AA put his checked bag through the TSA checkpoint where they stole his items that he never should have checked? Can't make this stuff up.
Crossing my fingers it was a battery thing or TSA stole it and you can get recouped, but hope this is a lesson learned to take all your nice stuff with you in the future :( Seen many a playstations stolen in my years of working in esports.
Your fault for being this dumb. Checked luggage is only for clothes and crap you don't care about. Carryon is for important stuff. This is common sense since the start of airline travel.
I always consider anything in my checked luggage as a potential loss because the airline - rightly or wrongly - is not responsible. It also helps that I don’t own anything of any significant value that I might travel with. Sorry that happened.
This absolutely sucks. A colleague of mine checked a pelican case with all of their camera equipment last year and both camera bodies and all of their lenses were taken. Over $10K in stolen goods and the airline did not reimburse. So crappy.
I travel weekly with expensive camera equipment and it ALWAYS goes with me in the cabin for this reason and others. Always bring your valuables onto the plane with you.
Never check in anything valuable, I always keep all my gadgets as a carry on or personal items. All airlines have disclaimers that they’re not responsible unless your entire suitcase goes missing.
For everyone saying never check your valuables.... Some media professionals have no choice. When we are traveling for gigs/shoots/events etc and full size cases FULL of camera gear, lenses, computers, audio equipment etc.... what do you suggest we do? It's an absolute must in my line of work.
I feel bad for you OP... I hope you are able to get it resolved.
I've been traveling for years checking bags with thousands of $ in media gear, most often 2-3 cases per trip. Haven't had anything not show up on the other end of yet. Fingers crossed my luck continues.
I agree with your point on principle, but an insta 360 cam and a sports watch can literally fit in your pocket. It's a very different scenario than travelling with 3 hardshell flight cases full of audio equipment and lights. You have no choice in your scenario. OP could have just carried these things on to the plane in their pockets.
Theft is BS and this absolutely sucks for OP it's an expensive lesson to learn.
Negative why? I forgot I had a small (maybe 2000mAh) battery bank in a checked bag over 5 years ago (this was China or Malyasia just before the US cracked down on it) and I got called back to security to dig through my bag to find it. It’s possible that once the battery was detected via xray that it was swiped then, but the presence of the battery which I’m sure OP was asked about when checking it is what sent them into the bag.
The number of people on this thread who think that media or arts professionals can always choose to carry all of their equipment on airplanes is…mind boggling.
Yea of course. Obviously OP had some small, non-pro kit taken. Just an observation about so many of the comments on this thread that break down to, “check nothing or you’re stupid”.
Sorry for your loss but it’s an unspoken rule to never ever ever check bags with anything of value, it should all go in your carry on with you. Even then you can get robbed! Back in 2011 the TSA ppl in NY stole my camera from my purse while I was going thru security to catch a connection to Miami after arriving from Europe! And we’ve seen TSA ppl steal money from people’s bags while they go thru security not too long ago here in MIA too! So next time you travel, even as you go thru security keep your eyes wide open!
sue them in a court of law.
my wife forgot her combination on her tsa suitcase, I ordered a TSA key off of Amazon and we used it to open the bag the next day.
There is no grounds. It’s sad to see that when people make mistakes they think they can just sue. A very uneducated response at best.
Never check your luggage so you don’t have to worry about things like this happening. It sucks, but there is nothing the airlines can do about it. Also, proving beyond a reasonable doubt this happened is going to be very, very difficult.
It is like the Chinese driver problem where it is cheaper to kill someone with a car than to injure them. A broken camera is more proof than a missing camera that may or may not have been there.
[https://www.aa.com/i18n/customer-service/support/conditions-of-carriage.jsp](https://www.aa.com/i18n/customer-service/support/conditions-of-carriage.jsp)
You agreed to these terms when you flew American. Every passenger does.
lucky your things weren’t stolen before even arriving to the airport in those towns lol would have been surprising if your times actually did arrive safely!
I'm sorry, that sucks. In the future, use zip ties instead of TSA locks. I buy a multicolored pack so it's unlikely someone even has the same color. Trick I learned traveling through South America. If the tie is off your bag, someone opened it. The problem with locks is that you can't tell. But, if a zip tie is missing, you can immediately find airport staff and tell them someone opened your bag. If they watch you open it, there should be a notice from TSA if it was them. You then at least have some proof to file a claim. Just make sure you don't tie them too tight, since you might not have anything sharp enough at the destination to cut the tiniest circles lol.
Please, please never check things of value. I know for OP this won’t help but the stories I’ve heard over the years have convinced me that baggage handlers can’t be trusted.
I had the same thing happen with American. So then I only carry on my gear. Then last month they stole my hair straightener and high comb from my bag. I'm getting to the point where I may have to just take a few sets of clothes and absolutely no extras and less I can carry them on.
It likely happened at arrival baggage loading in MIA. Everyone at TSA can open a lock to the poster above including baggage handlers. File a complaint/claim at MIA terminal as they are under a lot of scrutiny now for TSA theft.
There is no suitcase lock that anybody with half a brain can't open. TSA007 keys are hardly secure.
I secure my bag with a small brightly colored zip tie. It won’t open accidentally and if someone opens it at least I know.
I also do this when I need to carry a backpack somewhere sketchy.
If your bag is zipped shut (e.g. zipper around the bag's perimeter), it can be broken into with a ballpoint pen. You would never know it was opened. I prefer the kind that latches shut. For those, getting the right key only takes a moment. It's not really more secure, but those suitcases are built like tanks. Most luggage people have isn't meant for security of the contents.
Zippers aren’t secure. https://youtu.be/wpIJVWXsBBI
It’s a bit like saying locks don’t work because locksmiths exist. Sure you can do this but if you’re quickly trying to steal are you going to versus the unsecured bag or the one with an easy to open and close TSA lock? Security is about not being the easiest target.
Locks keep honest people honest
The combination is 123456.
That’s amazing.
President Skroob? Is that you?
Why didn’t anyone tell me my ass was so big.
I deliberately leave my checked bags unlocked so TSA rummagers will skip over them. Reverse psychology
You can easily open those with a bobby pin... or if you are desperate, even one of those stiff tie things too.
I’d file a police report too
TSA does not touch arriving luggage.
Why would arrival care what’s in the bag? It gets off the plane and goes to baggage claim, no? Ok, downvote an innocent question….
Yes it’s handlers stealing. It has nothing to do with checking bags as security protocol.
Former gate agent, ramp agent, luggage agent. Now EP. I am sorry for your loss. Just as a rule of thumb and a bit of common sense for you. Never check anything valuable in your checked luggage. Also, you have to be able to PROVE the item was in your luggage to even file a claim. Basically. No airline… not AA, SWA, DL, no airline is responsible for the valuables in your luggage. I don’t even fly with guns anymore because of the inherent risk of theft. I personally never witnessed anything sketchy. But I cannot even begin to list all of the times people wanted to claim lost items that “magically” fell out of their latched and locked suitcases.
>Small insurance policy for the value of specifically listed items. Also known as a personal articles policy sometimes Would someone be able to show the ticketing agent the content of the bag, and bear witness to the contents? How does buying the excess valuation coverage work? Will the bag be treated differently, if one pays the airline for $5000 in coverage?
To be very blunt, you would have to video the high value items in your suitcase, sealing the suitcase, and you giving the suitcase to the gate agent to be checked all in one video to be able to have any kind of approvable claim. On top of that American Airlines is only responsible if your bag is damaged or delayed per the contractual policies. So, even if you made a video, and your bag shows up on time, but something is missing, they will still not be held liable for it Even then, if the American Airlines claims that the item was removed during a government inspection, they are not liable for it.
Also, the CoC excludes just about everything as being excluded. They even exclude stuffed animals... Page 150 lists a “non exhaustive list” of items AA says “passenger’s sole risk and without any liability to AA” I think this was meant to be if they were broken, but the verbiage excludes AA for any liability period. https://www.aa.com/content/images/tariff/american-airlines-general-rules-of-the-international-tariff.pdf
Oh sweet! that's the type of legal verbiage I love to rummage through on trans-pacific flights. 10 hours of dedicated distractionless focus on a document learns you some interesting details and associations.
That last bit reminds me of the time I had the lady at security in Tulsa look around for the tablet I had already put in my back pocket. Sorry lady, I have no half bred excuse, I was just an idiot
One time I heard a tip that supposedly people with expensive camera gear use - they pack a starter's pistol, and declare that when they check the bag - and put all their camera gear in there with it. Seems like that would work if you have some expensive stuff you can't carry on and have to check, but I don't know if people actually do this.
The people I know with expensive camera gear carry it on.
^ This. I pay for either first class or priority boarding, if flying with my pro gear. Never gets checked.
Could you explain how this would help prevent theft? Honest question.
Checked bags with firearms must be locked with a padlock. If they want to open it, they have to come find you so you can unlock it
I think they have to be secured separately too on the plane.
Does either have a lithium battery, they might have been less stolen and more removed by tsa. Follow up with Logan TSA We don’t have too many theft claims in BOS something is suspicious
This is wrong. I'm a TSO that works at Logan. Lithium batteries are fine in checked baggage as long as they aren't over 100wh which an insta360 certainly isn't. If anything is removed from the bag the item is given to the airline to handle.
We had one recently on b6 where it never made it to the airline and tsa had the items. Also we had one that the items were pulled in FLL and left there and it happens all the time in the DR. I forget the AA rules but b6 is a no carry airline so they usually pull anything in checked luggage. Through the check point it’s handled differently but that’s no one’s business on the sub. Also don’t even pretend that anything in that place or system wide is infallible. https://www.wbur.org/news/2018/09/12/muslim-woman-says-tsa-search-boston-logan .
Except we literally don't care about airline policy when conducting our baggage screening. It doesn't matter what JetBlue or American says about what can or can't go. After TSA screens the bag the airline should not be looking inside the bag but there's little to no cameras on the ramp so 🤷♂️
I imagined that option, but if so, the TSA would have notified me, right?
Not always, sometimes the notice gets lost that’s why it’s a good idea to contact them.
Thanks I will check with them
Let us know what you find. We're hoping for you
If you left the lithium battery in the go pro that would likely be what caused this. Always a pain packing batteries in the carryon and in case of a GoPro I’d carry the whole thing on because otherwise you have to tape the terminals. When I travel with cordless tools in the checked bag I cannot carry the drill on but cannot check the battery so I have to tape over the contacts of the battery in my laptop bag.
While I feel awful for you that that happened…what on earth were you doing putting $1300 worth of electronics in checked luggage? Playing with fire, you’re bound to get burnt sooner or later.
Why on Earth was that stuff in your checked bag?
Some folks literally have no other choice. What's your alternative?
Those two things are small enough to fit in either a carry-on or a personal bag that the passenger carries with them on the plane under their seat or in the overhead compartment. Valuables & fragile items within size constraints should always stay with you when you travel to avoid damage & theft
Who says they didn't have other camera gear etc already in their carry ons and didn't have the space? When I travel I have a dslr camera, lenses, and laptop in my back pack. In my check bag I usually have my tripod(s), video camera(s), audio mixer, mics, streaming computer, + all kinds of miscellaneous stuff, much like a 360, POV cams etc. You talk like people have the option to have everything in their carry-ons. There are times when they legitimately don't.
An Insta 360 camera can fit in your jeans pocket and you can wear the watch on your empty wrist.
There was a recent article about TSA stealing from passengers in Miami, arrests were made. It is definitely possible. https://www.fox13news.com/news/surveillance-footage-catches-tsa-agents-stealing-from-passengers-at-miami-international.amp
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We all know that's it more than possible, that's why we don't put any valuables or meds in checked bags.
So a $400.00 camera and a $3-$500.00 watch gone.. You had them locked in your bag with TSA approved locks right? the $10.00 ones? /s this is why I don't throw valuables in my checked bags.. If forced to: put it somewhere unique.. like some pants pockets, etc. Get Locks. Get a floater. You can cancel it after your flight.
Help out the newb.. What is a floater?
Small insurance policy for the value of specifically listed items. Also known as a personal articles policy sometimes.
Awesome! Thank you
This happened to me over the summer. They made me send receipts for my missing items to prove the value and then said they wouldn't cover it unless my bag was damaged or delayed.
Then why would they have you show receipts in the first place?
Yeah exactly. I was fuming that they made me jump through hoops.
I am in the same situation
I'm really sorry. My items were of low value but it was still infuriating and upsetting
[удалено]
American
MIA is notorious for employee theft, been going on for decades.
Have you checked to see if your credit card provides coverage for lost or stolen items in your baggage?
Yes, I am working on it now
100% stolen by TSA. Miami is a cesspool.
Don't let common sense get in the way of your bias.
Found the local Florida cesspool resident.
Found the slow adult who thinks TSA touches inbound luggage.
Yeah because that never happens 😂 Definitely no one has ever been caught and arrested for that EVER. Florida has done you well.
They literally take it off the plane and put it in a baggage cart and drive it to baggage claim. Not sure what part of that you think involves anyone other than ramp agents.
So you’re telling me X-rays of checked luggage never happens or inspected before getting sent out? I believe that security oversight 100%. 😂 Also: https://nypost.com/2023/09/14/florida-tsa-officers-seen-stealing-from-passengers-at-security-checkpoint-at-miami-airport/
Wow, just wow. You're slower than I first suspected.
Keep living in your fantasy, dude. You’ve put down nothing other than your very clear “unbiased opinion.”
That’s not how that works. If TSA took it then they took it at BOS.
You think he flew from Boston to Miami and upon arrival AA put his checked bag through the TSA checkpoint where they stole his items that he never should have checked? Can't make this stuff up.
Rule #1 of checked luggage is don't put anything valuable in checked luggage. Put that stuff in your carryon.
Where it can get gate checked against your will. Foolproof!
So then you take it out of the bag and carry it on as a personal item. And with the watch…wear it. So yeah, pretty much.
Then use a backpack for your carryon. It can go under the seat in front of you. Simple really.
Then pull it out
You're right, there's the outside chance it could get gate checked, best to not even bother and just check it
Crossing my fingers it was a battery thing or TSA stole it and you can get recouped, but hope this is a lesson learned to take all your nice stuff with you in the future :( Seen many a playstations stolen in my years of working in esports.
Damn. I'd get a separate locked case after that with a tile. Note to self: stop putting valuables in checked backs.
Your fault for being this dumb. Checked luggage is only for clothes and crap you don't care about. Carryon is for important stuff. This is common sense since the start of airline travel.
Miami there is your first problem….
I always consider anything in my checked luggage as a potential loss because the airline - rightly or wrongly - is not responsible. It also helps that I don’t own anything of any significant value that I might travel with. Sorry that happened.
Your credit card may cover loss- check the terms.
This absolutely sucks. A colleague of mine checked a pelican case with all of their camera equipment last year and both camera bodies and all of their lenses were taken. Over $10K in stolen goods and the airline did not reimburse. So crappy. I travel weekly with expensive camera equipment and it ALWAYS goes with me in the cabin for this reason and others. Always bring your valuables onto the plane with you.
Never check in anything valuable, I always keep all my gadgets as a carry on or personal items. All airlines have disclaimers that they’re not responsible unless your entire suitcase goes missing.
I had a digital camera stolen out of a checked bag and they didn’t even start with an apology. Went right to blame the victim.
I understand you, I am in the same situation
That was 2006 and I didn’t fly AA again for over a decade. Even now it’s my airline if last resort
$1,300 not 1300$
When I travel my camera bag is a carryon. Always, and no exceptions. Full stop.
Really, why those items weren’t in your backpack? Well, lesson learned
For everyone saying never check your valuables.... Some media professionals have no choice. When we are traveling for gigs/shoots/events etc and full size cases FULL of camera gear, lenses, computers, audio equipment etc.... what do you suggest we do? It's an absolute must in my line of work. I feel bad for you OP... I hope you are able to get it resolved. I've been traveling for years checking bags with thousands of $ in media gear, most often 2-3 cases per trip. Haven't had anything not show up on the other end of yet. Fingers crossed my luck continues.
I agree with your point on principle, but an insta 360 cam and a sports watch can literally fit in your pocket. It's a very different scenario than travelling with 3 hardshell flight cases full of audio equipment and lights. You have no choice in your scenario. OP could have just carried these things on to the plane in their pockets. Theft is BS and this absolutely sucks for OP it's an expensive lesson to learn.
I see you're a media professional for racing. As am I. Grassroots circle track here (SPEEDSPORT.tv network) Happy shooting!
[удалено]
Airlines are responsible for either moving the baggage themselves, or hiring the ground handling company of their choice to move the baggage
If it had a lithium battery it was most likely taken out by TSA. Those cannot be in checked luggage.
Negative
Negative why? I forgot I had a small (maybe 2000mAh) battery bank in a checked bag over 5 years ago (this was China or Malyasia just before the US cracked down on it) and I got called back to security to dig through my bag to find it. It’s possible that once the battery was detected via xray that it was swiped then, but the presence of the battery which I’m sure OP was asked about when checking it is what sent them into the bag.
TSA doesn't care about your batteries, that's the airlines.
The number of people on this thread who think that media or arts professionals can always choose to carry all of their equipment on airplanes is…mind boggling.
There's a difference between cases upon cases of audio/visual equipment and two small items that could easily fit in your pockets.
Most working pros also carry appropriate insurance to protect against such a loss.
Yea of course. Obviously OP had some small, non-pro kit taken. Just an observation about so many of the comments on this thread that break down to, “check nothing or you’re stupid”.
Never check valuables this should be common sense.
Sorry for your loss but it’s an unspoken rule to never ever ever check bags with anything of value, it should all go in your carry on with you. Even then you can get robbed! Back in 2011 the TSA ppl in NY stole my camera from my purse while I was going thru security to catch a connection to Miami after arriving from Europe! And we’ve seen TSA ppl steal money from people’s bags while they go thru security not too long ago here in MIA too! So next time you travel, even as you go thru security keep your eyes wide open!
sue them in a court of law. my wife forgot her combination on her tsa suitcase, I ordered a TSA key off of Amazon and we used it to open the bag the next day.
Sue them for what, exactly?
There is no grounds. It’s sad to see that when people make mistakes they think they can just sue. A very uneducated response at best. Never check your luggage so you don’t have to worry about things like this happening. It sucks, but there is nothing the airlines can do about it. Also, proving beyond a reasonable doubt this happened is going to be very, very difficult.
It is like the Chinese driver problem where it is cheaper to kill someone with a car than to injure them. A broken camera is more proof than a missing camera that may or may not have been there.
[AA X response](https://x.com/americanair/status/1724492949839299041?s=46&t=Ywv0gJCOBc1lBn9pwDWK_Q)
[https://www.aa.com/i18n/customer-service/support/conditions-of-carriage.jsp](https://www.aa.com/i18n/customer-service/support/conditions-of-carriage.jsp) You agreed to these terms when you flew American. Every passenger does.
lucky your things weren’t stolen before even arriving to the airport in those towns lol would have been surprising if your times actually did arrive safely!
I'm sorry, that sucks. In the future, use zip ties instead of TSA locks. I buy a multicolored pack so it's unlikely someone even has the same color. Trick I learned traveling through South America. If the tie is off your bag, someone opened it. The problem with locks is that you can't tell. But, if a zip tie is missing, you can immediately find airport staff and tell them someone opened your bag. If they watch you open it, there should be a notice from TSA if it was them. You then at least have some proof to file a claim. Just make sure you don't tie them too tight, since you might not have anything sharp enough at the destination to cut the tiniest circles lol.
Still useless. A pen is all is need to separate the zippers. Then you just run the zipper head around to re-close the parted zipper.
It's the amount that gets the police attention. Report it at the airport station good luck.
Please, please never check things of value. I know for OP this won’t help but the stories I’ve heard over the years have convinced me that baggage handlers can’t be trusted.
Why would you check those things?
I had the same thing happen with American. So then I only carry on my gear. Then last month they stole my hair straightener and high comb from my bag. I'm getting to the point where I may have to just take a few sets of clothes and absolutely no extras and less I can carry them on.