I've many dozens of flights I've taken since TSA took over security, I've yet to meet these greedy goons that I've heard all these horrible stories about.
I've carried equipment, and our company's products in my carry on luggage worth 10s of thousands of dollars. I've never had any problems.
I've dealt with some TSA employees that were not having the best day, and were not overly friendly, but that's a log way from having any problems.
I treat them with respect. I don't screw around. I've never had any problems.
I don't travel nearly as much as our sales force, but I do travel with them from time to time. I've heard a lot of strange travel stories, but haven't heard any stories of these goonish TSA agents who try and steal watches and jewelery, or who go out of their way to make people miserable.
I got a good feeling up last time I wore a big Swiss watch. Worth more than the screener earns in 3 months.
I used to represent our company at standards meetings where I'd spend a lot of time talking to vice presidents and CEOs of tech companies that make 20 times my annual salary.
Lots of time spent socializing and networking. Lots of stories about traveling to different meetings. Even a lot of discussions about the stupid TSA regulations at the time (which made far less sense that the current ones do now).
However, I didn't hear any of them complaining about problems with TSA employees trying to take their watches or jewelery, or even having problems with overly rude TSA agents. Just complaints about stupid regulations.
Not going to put it through to be swiped.
Put it in a basket on the belt just before you go through the metal detector. You're right next to the machine the entire time.
If they stop you at the detector, they don't make you go through until you don't set it off. They allow you to get your things, and then they take you aside and use a wand to find out what set off the metal detector.
Your possessions never needs to be more than a few feet from you.
Believe me. When I go through security with 20 or 30k worth of equipment or electronics in my carry-on, I make sure I watch it go into the scanner, and I make sure I'm there to watch it come out.
It's easy to make sure I'm there to watch it come out, because I know the things I wear when flying won't set off the metal detector.
I also keep an eye on the people who went through in front of me.
However, it's not too likely anyone would get far if they took something. There are cameras recording what happens there, and it's not like they can simply disappear.
People send valuable things through security all day, every day.