Originally Posted by
breny
Your best bet is to put your wallet in your carryon and then close it with a zip-tie. Demand to keep your bags in your sight at all times. If you need a patdown, ask the screener to retrieve your bags before they do the patdown. If they want to inspect your bags, the zip-ties will (hopefully) keep them from opening them until after your screening is done.
I carry zip-ties and some small nail clippers in an unlocked outside pocket of one of my carryons. I use the clippers to remove the zip-ties.
I stopped using zip-ties after being threatened with arrest by the BWI FSD a few months ago due to my electrician's scissors (he saw me clipping a couple of the zip-ties and went on a tirade about them until the MdTA cop told him he wouldn't arrest me for having an object that just went through screening and was cleared by TSA).
I found some non-TSA small Master Lock combination locks that have shanks long enough to permit me to close just about every compartment on both my roller and backpack. I also bought a small rigid first-aid kit which, when emptied, is just big enough for all of my credentials, passport, cash and car keys. This gets double locked and buried in a bottom section of my backpack immediately after I go through the TDC.