Stephan:   On a trip recently the man sitting next to me on the plane told me he had had valuables taken from his suitcase. He said he was convinced it was done by TSA agents, but couldn't prove it. I thought his story improbable but, as this report suggests, I was probably wrong, and he was correct. I would not place anything small and valuable in my suitcase, if you check your luggage. Even going through the checkpoints would concern me. Put it in a small bag and put it in the tubs provided so its absence would be immediately evident and highly noticeable.