in any case its definately worth filing a report with the airline. Even if theres nothing they can do to compensate your loss they will have a record of it in case some type of pattern develops at a certain location. It will be very helpful for the loss prevention team to close in and pin point on a chronic bad apple if one exists. Thats why I, no matter how small the missing item is I file a complaint
The officer who took my report told me they've caught baggage handlers stealing items while inside the cargo hold.
Since this occurred, I rarely check bags anymore unless I'm hauling something really large and bulky. As am added precaution, I store laxatives in the painkiller bottle, and vice versa.