Originally Posted by Psychocadet
NY Penal Law, § 155.05 (2b) specifically mentions that aquirnig lost property without making a reasonable attempt to find the owner and return it to him. Since the item is worth one thousad dollars or less it is defined as Peitit Larceny by § 155.25. That is an A Misdameanor.
So eyecue, feel free to press charges (but paying for his lock is more statesmenlike)
Sounds like the guy has told the TSA he has the property, which would seem like a reasonable attempt to me. It shouldn't be the pax responsibility to deliver the device to TSA. If TSA sends someone to pick it up or sends a pre-paid mailer, and the guy refused to send it back, then I could see pressing charges. But assuming TSA doesn't send a courier and either sends a prepaid mailer or expects the guy to mail it himself (postage due maybe?), I would think he could reasonably claim it would take him 30-60 days to do so due to his "hectic travel schedule." Of course, if TSA would replace his locks, then maybe the hectic schedule would become a little less so.
If it were me and TSA were not going to replace my locks, I'd take the thing on an international trip and then mail it back to TSA from some extremely remote location via the most expensive express mail with an insured/estimated value of a couple thousand dollars (for customs purposes, and since I could claim ignorance as to the value of the device), postage due.