I guess we have to wait for the rest of this story ... PC World: Laptop Stolen from Checked Bag, Recovered on Craigslist (Note that this does not mean that TSA is innocent -- baggage screeners have been known to spot valuables & phone ahead to baggage handlers who will ensure that it goes missing once it is out of the view of the security cameras.)
I'd be willing to lay odds that a TSA (expletive deleted) had something to do with the theft. It's pretty clear that supervision of TSA screening areas is badly lacking.
If the TSA can't keep stuff from being stolen between the security screening and the aircraft cargo compartment, then they can't keep people from putting stuff into the cargo compartment. Pretty straightforward.
I surprised they had video. Usually when TSA is even remotely envolved in something, I hear - "We're very sorry, but our cameras were not operational at that time."
You shouldn't be. The TSA has been pretty good at providing video that shows it wasn't their screw-up. It's pretty simple. Any cameras that can show the TSA (expletive deleted) will be found to be "not operational" when it comes time to hold them accountable.
