I bought some of those TSA locks when they first came out. They had an indicator that was supposed to change if the TSA key had been used. I know luggage locks in general are flimsy and easily cut off, or someone can just use that pen in the zipper trick. I bought them mostly because of that indicator, so I would know if the bag had been searched by TSA. Well the first trip I used one of the locks, on arrival the lock was intact and locked, TSA love note inside bag, but indicator that's supposed to show the TSA lock had been used had NOT changed. 2nd trip with the TSA lock the lock was cut off with bolt cutters and placed inside bag, no TSA love note. I feel this is what would've happened to OP's TSA lock had he not been standing there witnessing the bag inspection. I mostly do carry on only now, but in the future if I check a bag I will do the colored zip tie thing someone else mentioned. I never put anything valuable in checked baggage, but I still hate that they can rifle through a person's belongings without the owner's presence. Any bag that needs to be opened should be done in front of the owner.