I don't want to be nasty, but most people stuff important documents in their pocket. Northwest has never made any secret of the fact that electronics, jewelry, etc. are not covered and that you're supposed to keep those items with you. When I have to gate check, I pull the electronic items out and show them the items -- I am always instructed to keep those items with me.

Headphones are of little value, documents go in your pocket with your wallet, a camera can be strapped around your neck like a large necklace (or slipped in another pocket with your cell if it's small enough) and voila, your only personal item is then the laptop. Just doesn't seem that tough to me?

I think there's a decent chance that another passenger saw you gate check expensive items and when the plane landed, that person was quick to pick up your bag and head out of the airport. I do get a bag lost or "borrowed" once in awhile, but the person who steals my bag is going to be very, very sad when they see what's inside. In fact, on a recent trip MSP-LAS, at MSP as we were heading off to report that our nicest bag had been disappeared, I *saw* the culprit sheepishly head back and put the bag back on the spinner. That's happened twice with that bag, probably because it was an expensive gift -- it looks like it should have something far more exciting inside than used underwear, bagged dry cereal, and marked-up poker books.