Laptop in checked bag?
 

Lithium batteries are not allowed in checked luggage.

I would never trust a laptop in checked luggage regardless of the battery restriction.

AC's 'Restricted and Prohibited Items' list clearly says that personal electronic devices (PEDs) are permitted in carry-on baggage only.

You can check in a laptop but the battery must be removed and carried on.

OP why do you want to offer an easy one to the thieves ? Do you know the hoops you will have to go thru to recover damages ? What about the content on the hard drive ? I wouldn't even dream of it !

Unless it's a Panasonic Toughbook or similar, I would never consider checking a laptop. Even if I'm on a smaller plane and have to gate check my roll aboard bag, the laptops stay with me in the cabin.

guys - how is it safer for lithium batteries in the cabin vs the luggage area in the lower deck?

Things in the cabin have half a chance of being extinguished before it grounds the plane and kills folksingers.

I don't think you can ever bring loose or spare batteries in checked luggage but in theory authorities say you can put devices with batteries in them (such as laptops) in checked bags "with airline permission". Air Canada makes it pretty clear they are not giving that permission -- they even say you need to remove laptops when gate checking on regional planes. (edit: CATSA says you can actually check loose or spare batteries with airline approval but in my experience airlines universally say loose and spare batteries need to be in carry-on)

Fwiw I have actually checked a couple older laptops with batteries built in on American Airlines which seems to still allow it. But even then the agent had to double check with a supervisor.

This article starts with fairly mundane commentary but it's worth it for the photos lower down...
https://travelinglight.com/can-you-c...ecked-luggage/

I have checked my ToughBook before, but pulled the battery out and carried it on. Only takes a few seconds to pull in that case. Wouldn’t trust a normal laptop in a checked bag. Regardless of being stolen or not.

I routinely travel with a pile of assorted batteries in my carryon for this exact reason, to the point where I've been questioned at CATSA why I have so many batteries in my carryon... Between my ski boot heaters, electric gloves, back country GPS, GoPro and other cameras (and of course, my laptop), my carry-on always has a pile of batteries in it. I always pull the batteries out before checking the items.

AC's liability exclusion in the tariff is what's keeping me from trying to check a laptop. It's in the original shipping package, so I'm not worried about damage. If UPS can ship it halfway around the world, I'm sure AC can't do any harm to it (famous last words).