New to this board. Found it while searching for an answer to what is becoming a MAJOR problem.

I fly weekly for work with thousands of dollars in equipment. I check it in hard-sided cases. I have been buying TravelSentry TSA locks to secure the cases. Unfortunately, at least one, and sometimes two or three of these locks simply disappear everytime I fly. Even more perplexing, I NEVER find TSA notification cards inside my cases. I can only assume the locks are being ripped off my luggage by some piece of equipment. When the locks make it through, they are often bent and mangled. At $10 each, it's like setting fire to a stack of money. On Wednesday, I bought four new TravelSentry locks at Brookstone for $43. By the time I got back to ATL on Friday, only two were left.

I've read the TSA site and they blame the airline conveyor system. I can't see waiting in line at baggage service to make a claim every time I fly. Plus, it's not like I have the damaged lock ... the thing is completely gone! At the same time, I don't feel good about checking this equipment unsecured.

Is anyone else having a similar experience? Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I should do????

Thanks ...

jb