You should just file a claim. You probably don't want to hear this but a basic rule of traveling is to never ever put anything of value (except clothing) in checked luggage. Having things taken from checked luggage is not uncommon at all...not bizarre at all. That luggage is handled by many people from Spain to Amsterdam to your home city...the airline cannot track down who took your items. In my opinion you are wasting your time calling airports etc.? I'm sorry it happened to you but don't ever put anything of value in checked luggage.

Sorry this happened to you. My brother had his camera stolen from his luggage 20 years ago and since then we never put valuables in our checked luggage. And, that's why I held my breath for the two hour flight from Bergen to Copenhagen because I accidentally forgot and left my laptop in my checked bag. If it had been stolen I would have been very upset with myself for leaving it in there.

Years ago, I had jewelry stolen from my checked luggage during a US domestic flight. Ever since, any jewelry or anything else I don't want to lose goes into my carry-on briefcase.

Very sorry about your items being stolen. I don't think you'll gain anything by calling the airport. But, file the claim with Delta, you should get some small amount from them.

There is a website, ifoundyourcamera.com. Don't know if there are similiar websites for phones/laptops. If your items weren't worth much, maybe the thief just threw them away and someone else picked them up and is trying to find you.

Good luck!

I have not had issue like this in Madrid. Sad to say the baggage theft is pretty common:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703581204574599953475913542.html
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/03/26/exclusive-the-stunning-jfk-airport-baggage-scandal-200-thefts-per-day/
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/02/delta-airlines-baggage-handler-arrested.html
http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Ex-Baggage-Handler-at-Philadelphia-International-Cleared-in-Theft-Case-136804838.html
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2012/02/29/2_boston_airport_baggage_handlers_accused_of_theft/

Yeah. Lesson learned.

I guess I have been spoiled by American honesty. The few times I have kept valuables on domestic flights, everything came back.

I am almost certain this happened in Madrid. Given their economy I am not surprised. I cannot imagine this kind of stuff happening in Amsterdam or IAH. The layover in Amsterdam was only 2 hours. The flight out of Madrid was at 6AM. I was checked in by 4AM. I suspect the thieves took advantage of less staff in the early morning.

I usually carry my laptop. But I was travelling with my pregnant wife this time and wanted to travel light so I could be available to assist/help as needed.

Oh well. Appreciate the responses. I guess I'll go ahead and file that claim.

Ah good links greg. I guess that bunks my American honesty theory.

Sorry, this sounds like a troll. First post. Look at screen name. And really, you would put a iphone and laptop in a checked bag? Even discounting the potential for theft, I would think the laptop would get thrown around enough to do damage.

Come one folks, this is someone else trying to cast yet another "bad thing happened in Madrid", yarn spin.

DebitNM...I did have that thought too...not sure what the point would be so I responded but seems like Dopamine is sure this happened in Madrid and could never happen in the USA? Even going thru the security machines you need to keep an eye on your stuff as sometimes it does not come out the other end!! There are thieves everywhere and certainly here in USA.

Laptop's, if packed properly, do just fine in checked luggage. You have to wrap it in some cushiony clothes and place them in the middle of the bag.

As I said, I was trying to travel light.

I guess there are people with too much time on their hands to troll and to spot trolls. I am neither.

Rule # 1 Don't check in $$$ or credit cards.

Rule # 2 Don't check laptops or iphone.

That leaves only crap that has nothing worth stealing.

I've had my bag pilfered many times. Why they want dirty socks.... Miami alone has stolen items 2 different times. The last time they ripped open the zipper and left the clothes dangling. Looked not so pretty on a carousel.

I think you can werite these items off. You're probably never going to see them again.

who says the items were stolen in Madrid?
It also could have been Amsterdam or even in Huston.

There are a lot of reports on here of people getting things stolen at airports, but I saw an interesting news item a month or so ago, where a major airline in the US has a number of IPads and such that we're left behind on airplanes and have never been claimed.

Not saying this happened to you OP, but thought it was an interesting counterpoint.

I see no reason to believe it is a troll.

I see no reason to believe the theft happened in Madrid.

I assume the theft happened somewhere the bags were x-rayed and someone saw an opportunity, but that is only an assumption.

I don't always agree with Rastaguy, but he is right on the money today as are others who say never to put valuables in a checked bag.

It was ever thus. When my father returned from Europe on a troopship in December, 1945, someone went to the trouble of drilling out the rivets on his footlocker, stealing a Luger pistol, and replacing the rivets with new ones. They had no way to know that the trunk contained a Luger pistol, only that it belonged to an American officer and thus might hold something of value. They scored big, but of course Dad wasn't supposed to be bringing it home anyway.

It is very irritating that airports cannot secure their internal areas any better than what they are doing. It is probably a huge mafia from the one supervising the cameras to a small group of handlers. Entitlement these days is the norm, it seems.

From the time you leave your house, it seems , until you return, anymore as a tourist or traveler we are faced with just trying to get home in tact and hopefully with all our belongings!

Our son had several valuable items stolen between Lorient , France and CDG-VLC. He now carries several kilos of equipment in his carry-on and knapsack.

Airlines will not cover these stolen items.( at least in our case) Neither would our home owners, but now don't remember exactly why, since he did have the police report.

I once knew a lad who got a summer job at Stansted Airport (UK) as a baggage handler. He was horrified by what he saw going on.

Unzipping bags and spraying the contents with shaving foam that had been found in the bag was the least offensive. "Probably not packed correctly, sir".

What he heard about other airports would make your hair stand on end.

Apparently some airlines used their own baggage handlers; others used the airport staff. Does anyone know if that is still the case?

Agree that things are stolen from checked luggage all over the world on a very frequent basis. The only solution is to carry on with you anything of value - including electronics, jewelry, medications etc. Put in checked luggage only things that no one else will want - used clothes and toiletries.

And their is no recourse - except to file a claim for the value of the objects. If the airline knew where it was happening they would stop it - they don't. And there are so many different people who cold be doing it - that tracing anything is close to impossible.

There was a ring doing this at JFK some years ago - and it was finally broken only by putting a couple of undercover cops in as faux employees - but they did that because of a huge number of complaints - so many that it was obvious that a ring was targeting bags with valuables in them.

It makes me nuts when someone says 'don't put anything of value in checked luggage'.

In checked luggage I've had my running shoes (slightly worn) stolen, a set of queen sized sheets stolen and technical gloves taken - on three different incidents.

Just understand that ANYTHING checked is fair game.

Thats why I gripe at all the 'security theatre' going on with the carry-on folks. How meaningful is all that when the baggage handlers are having a field day?

I would much rather replace used running shoes or sheets than an expensive laptop camera or worse camera with one in a life time photos. Yes people are still checking these things.. "Laptop's, if packed properly, do just fine in checked luggage. You have to wrap it in some cushiony clothes and place them in the middle of the bag." as posted above is either a troll or someone who just can't get it.

Anything that is checked IS fair game...correct but never pack anything you would find it difficult to replace.

Personally we travel with hand carry but on the rare occasion when we do check it is just dirty clothes or very inexpensive things acquired on the trip...if it gets there in one piece great and if not ...not a big deal.

Frankly to put electronics in checked luggage is foolish and asking for it to be taken. I remember one time making the mistake of packing my son's new video game cartridge in checked luggage and it was stolen (this was in a domestic US flight), even though it was packed at the bottom of the suitcase! From time to time you read/ see news reports of rings of baggage handlers which steal things , the latest one I heard about was a few months ago and it was at Kennedy airport.

Wow thanks for the empathy turaj.

You do understand that everyone that posts here is not a carry on holiday traveler?

I was living in Europe at the time and got these items during my annual home leave. Meaning I would have to wait a year for replacement as I could not get these specific items where I was living. I was also bringing back items for other expats.

You cannot carry on EVERYTHING.

Sorry...I understand everyone cannot do hand carry and clearly value has many different meanings not just monetary. Your loss was probably much bigger in scope than a laptop as replacement was not easy. In fact it is even more irritating when they take items of no value really to them but big value to person who checked the bag. I understand how my comments sounded insensitive and again sorry.

Much appreciated turaj.

So many responses. Thanks guys.

Honestly, we thought that checked in luggage was the most secure way to go. Probably because we have never had anything stolen before and never heard of any of our friends/family getting stuff stolen out of checked in luggage. Very surprised to learn that this is a common problem.

When you have carry-on luggage there is always that rush to get on the plane fast to get space for your items in the overhead bin. Since I was travelling with my prego wife, I wanted to avoid all that. So that is why we checked in the luggage.

I am filling out the claim form now, if only to register my case. Hopefully they are looking for patterns and might be able to catch the guys someday. My wife asked me last night if we'd ever get our laptop back. I told her to forget about it.

Guys, I run a forum myself and I cannot tell you how annoying it is for new posters get labeled trolls or flame, usually by the regulars. It's a big world with lots of things. Not everyone knows everything about everything. Give people the benefit of doubt. If the person is a troll, the worse that happened is you wasted a few minutes writing a response. But if the person is not a troll, you have hindered his ability to get help. That is never a good thing.

You make very good points dopamine...I seldom use that term because as you say it is usually someone new and new viewpoints or questions are always welcome. Sorry I mentioned it on this post.

If you have a homeowners policy...might that help? I would imagine someone could declare just about anything was stolen...not like damaged luggage where you make a claim. Anyway good luck.

I'll bet on some photo forums where I have asked some basic questions and most there are so experienced I have been called a troll too!!

For probabilistic events, people have different view or incorrectly assess how much the experience controls future outcome.

There are events where "I have done it 20 times, etc" reduces the risk. Driving certain confusing routes in a foreign country without getting lost or racking up a traffic fine improves as you do more.

However, there are many other events where "I have done it 20 times, etc" would have partial or no effect in reducing the future risks. Checked luggage is one of the event where whatever hundreds of times one has done it has little impact on next outcome. Think about it, two suitcases packed identically (say with a laptop), one belonging to someone who traveled 100 times, and other first time. What difference do they make once they are in the luggage handling area? Another one is pickpocket. One might have traveled 100 times without any attempt at pickpocket and another traveling for the first time. Here, one has full control in how one carries valuables but not how the pickpocket behaves. If both the 100th time traveler and the first time traveler carry valuable the same way, "I have done it 100 times and nothing happened" is a luck of draw. However, f that experience person takes specific precautions, then those "100 trips" helped reduce the risk.

My sister thought it was silly that I carry one change of clothes in my carry-on. She has traveled extensively and she has never had delayed/lost luggage. Well finally her luggage was mis-routed she had no change of clothes in a sweaty city for many days. I am not sure if she learned that not having lost luggage on many previous trips have no bearing on future trip.

One cannot carry everything, but one can reduce the damage if things are stolen from the checked luggage. One cannot prevent the theft, but the impact from it by allocating what need to be in carry-on and what can be in checked luggage. For each trip, I go through exercise: if my checked luggage never arrives (worse than theft), how would I have packed carry-on and checked luggage to minimize the impact? For each trip, the answer is different. If hiking is the main goal of the trip. the hiking shoes are cannot lose items. If the same shoes are used as a second pair on city mostly trip, the loss of that pair does not ruin the trip.

Quit whinging and file the claim. Delta/KLM and the authorities of Spain, Netherlands, the EU, US Customs and/or Interpol are not going to try to trace a theft ring just because you feel personally aggrieved by the larceny of items worth less than $1500. No international corporation is going to move mountains for you for this.

Troll or not, OP was daft.

Never let the ipod/ipad/iphone/ilaptop/ielectronicthingummy out of my personal possession whether in the US or traveling internationally.

Here is a YouTube video that shows just how easy it is to get into a "locked" suitcase. A real eye opener for me. After losing my camera years ago on a flight to Mexico, I never pack high priced items in my checked luggage.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wCwmYQRTrg

One can always pack valuables in yuor carry-on. Whatever other stuff that's in there takin gup room is extremely unlikely to be as valuable as a camera will irreplacable photos or even a laptop. If you are carrying so many other valuables that you can;t keep a camera with you - you are carryig way more than you should.

Even the smallest carry-on can hold a laptop, camera, medications, jewelry (and I really don;t think taking jewelry on a trip is a good idea either), basic toiletries and one change of clothes. (Yes, everyone should travel with one change of clothes in case luggage is delayed. If people are hauling hair dryers, heating irons, steamers and other such nonsense around with them - either 1) learn to do without or 2) put THAT stuff in the checked luggage - since it can easily be replaced wherever you are for about $20.

You can;t stop people getting into your luggage - but yo can make sure that they (if normal thieves) don't want what's in there.

What I don't understand is how the thieves walk away with their loot.
They surely are checked/screened before being in a secure area;
how difficult would it be to check/screen them on their way out?

Sure, they are screened before going into a secure area, 29 FEB. (At least we hope they are.) Why would you want to screen people leaving a secure area? Not for security, surely. I would imagine theft takes a lesser priority than security in most airports, but even if it didn't, there are zillions of schemes that thieves think up to get stuff out; corrupt guards, complicit truck drivers, etc., etc.

The venality of shipping workers around the world is legendary. In most ports of the world theft of a certain percentage of cargo by the stevedores is taken for granted. Sort of a tax the shipper pays. The change to container shipping dropped theft for awhile, but the latest estimate I saw was they still lose over $21 billion a year. That attitude was exported to baggage handlers many years ago.

Anyone with any sense (especially an experience traveler who writes a blog) would never put anything of value, except clothing, in checked luggage, with or without one of those famous TSA locks.

Traveling to Spain, through Madrid, several times each year, the only time my checked luggage has ever been opened is by TSA in Philly.

' am almost certain this happened in Madrid. Given their economy I am not surprised. I cannot imagine this kind of stuff happening in Amsterdam or IAH. '

That's pretty offensive. I'm Spanish, my salary has been reduced by 25% in two years, and yet I wouldn't dream of stealing anything. Why do you think that anyone facing economic problems becomes a thief? Would you?

I agree with Agosto. It is almost racist in tone.

Sad to say even further, MOST US airlines will NOT pay and specifically exclude electronic items from checked luggage.

I'm not even sure you could get homeowners or travel insurance (if you had it) to pay if you wanted coverage for a laptop in checked baggage. I would think they have an "exclusion".

Agosto, I was thinking exactly like you, I do not know why I did not write this earlier. BTW, I am not from Spain.

In all my travels,I have never packed anything of value in my checked-in luggage. Years ago someone suggested that I never check in early-too much time for my luggage to sit around.On landing my case is first off and so I try to get to the carousel ASAP.
Nowadays, my concern is for someone walking off with my case-used to be a person checking to see if your claim check matched your luggage claim. Those days are long gone! In Phoenix, Las Vegas,Newarketc anyone from the street can walk up to the carousels and take their pick!!!!
Anyone had their luggage disappear this way?

Chapla,
My husband checked a generic black 22" rollaboard some years ago to ATL. I don't remember why, but he even packed a few things he would normally carry on. Upon arrival, his bag never appeared, he filed a claim, and he was miserable about his mistake. 24-36 hours later the airline phoned to say another traveler had mistakenly taken his bag off the carousel and dropped it unopened at his house until the next day. When he opened it, he realized his mistake and phoned the airline to return + retrieve his own bag. So, it can even happen accidently.

Kay2 Yes, it can happen accidently-it happened to my father and the airline did a great job picking up both suitcases and delivering them!
I am referringt o people who actually walk in to the airport and help themselves to luggage! There was a huband/wife team that got caught a few years ago and their house was overflowing with suitcases! They conveniently lived very close to the airport!
That's why I don't detour to the bathroom but go directly to the baggage claim area!

Sorry but nothing of sentimental or monetary value belongs in checked luggage, ever. You need to pack that stuff in your carry-on bag.

American honesty my foot. This is a country where people will steal the seat off of a bike that is locked up outside.

Chapla.. what is amazing is that anyone can go to the carrousels in the USA and retrieve luggage At least in Europe most places, the luggage is still in a secured area where only passengers can go. Although that does not mean someone else can't steal what might look like interesting bags.

At Denver, at least they used to check tags when leaving due to all the ski robberies.

lincasanova - That has always bothered me too. Sometimes when I have picked people up at the airport, I have collected their bags for them before they reach the bagage area. I am literally just a person off the street who walked in and started taking bags off the carrousel.

<You do understand that everyone that posts here is not a carry on holiday traveler?>

You don't have to be a "carryon" ONLY traveler. You just need to take VALUABLES on the plane with you.

Plastic ties will prevent the opportunistic thief. I just had a suitcase miss a connecting flight. The bag was opened by security since its owner was not on the same flight but security replaced the plastic tie and left a message in the suitcase. Not a 100% secure, but better than not locking the suitcase at all.

I don't lock or cable tie or use plastic ties. Like having a very expensive suitcase, I figure locking it only makes it seem there's stuff of value inside.

november_moon, you said "I have collected their bags for them before they reach the bagage area. I am literally just a person off the street who walked in and started taking bags off the carrousel."
At every airport that I have ever travelled through, the baggage area is strictly off-limits to non-passengers. At which airport(s) have you done that?

At every airport that I have ever travelled through, the baggage area is strictly off-limits to non-passengers. At which airport(s) have you done that?

SFO for one. It used to be that NYC was strict on luggage check, where someone would ask for proof of tag when exiting the baggage area; no more.

SEA is another airport that anyone could walk up to choose whichever bag he/she wanted. Perhaps there is surveillance and security presence, but no checking of baggage check tags.

We almost never check luggage now, except for dirty clothes, and bulky purchases coming back. Certainly we never put anything really valuable in checked luggage.

So how do people go through customs with someone else´s bags? More to the point, why on earth would someone take that risk?

Baggage area off-limits to non-passengers?
Nowhere I've been in the US, with the exception of international arrivals.

I remember years ago having to show a matching bag claim ticket in Miami and Las Vegas to exit bag claim area, but haven't been back to either airport since.

At my area airports - Portland ME, Boston Logan, Manchester NH - pretty much anyone off the street could take a bag off the carousel and leave with no questions asked. Personally, if I have a checked bag, I stand right by where the bags come out onto the carousel so I can spot mine right away.

"Nowhere I've been in the US, with the exception of international arrivals."
That explains it. Because the original post was about an international flight, I fell into the trap of getting into that mind set as regards internal flights in the US.

Thanks, MaineGG.

That's my concern as I mentioned before.I asked a porter at the airport about what happened to the person who used to double check tags and he said it was due to cutbacks!
The only time the luggage is off limits is when it's an international arrival flight because you have to go through customs.
I truly am appalled by the airport casualness about luggage.In other words, we got you here,good luck with your luggage,you're pretty much on your own!
That's why I said I hurry down to the carrousels.
Now don't get me started on how offesive I find the price of luggage carts! In Madrid they are FREE but in the States they welcome you by making you fork out $$$ or a credit card.......