When my gunsmith, and I went to SHOTshow, , flying from SAT,
we both had stuff stolen at the walk through screening.. he had a watch stolen out of the bin they make you deposit things in as you walk through. I had stuff stolen out of my carry on.
He went right back to the screener..was told “Oh, the other guy just left..change of shift. Sorry, I can’t help you.”
They have obviously refined their techniques. That’s pretty brazen.
As far as I am concerned, any valuables left in luggage WILL be stolen. It’s a perfect certainty. But your story, that’s literally taking a watch off your wrist.
What did they lift out of your carry-on?