I have often stopped in Fry's en route to the airport - checked in things like printers (only an idiot or optimist would send a laptop in its original box). They make you sign the release on the back of the bag stub and then quite often TSA will open it as evidenced by one of their notes inside. I have often put laptops in large hard sided suit cases wrapped in tons of clothes and they have always arrived fine. And nothing has ever been stolen. A couple of people have told me indignantly of their camera or whatever being stolen out of bags. I have long since come to the conclusion that they have been defrauding their insurance company. Like I travel hundreds of flights a year and nothing goes, and they fly to Disneyland once a year and their $800 Nikon disappears. Again, who in the right mind checks a $800 Nikon? That's what I'd say if I were UA or the loss adjuster at the insurance.