Returning from a short vacation on American Airlines from Springfield, MO to Philadelphia, I picked up my baggage and thought it seemed different from when I had packed it: he bag had been completely ransacked-- safety inspection, I thought. Wrong. Everything had been put back except my four fishing reels I had just purchased, my fishing knife. Anything of value had been stolen. I called American the next morning and was told I should have reported it at the airport and would have to do so if I wanted to make an official complaint. Later that day I drove the hour to the American baggage office at the airport and told them what was missing. I was told in so many words "Tough" and that if fishing gear turned up in lost and found I would be notified! Who the HELL inspects their bag at the airport? Why did they have me return to the airport to do nothing they could not have done over the phone? What is wrong with these people? You are not allowed to lock your bags for security purposes, (I never have anyway in 17 years of travel); now security needs security? How did the perp get my belongings out of the workplace unnoticed? American needs to be forced to answer these questions. The reel I had just bought was $249.00; the others probably are now worth $75.00 to $100 each. The personalized reel case was a gift from my wife that has a sentimental value. The older digital camera was at one time $400.00. The other things probably bear a replacement value of $250.00 total. I no longer have the pictures I took of the trip; I was going to have one of them enlarged and framed as a gift to the client I was fishing with. The worst thing being the fact that I will never feel the same way about air travel again, thanks to the thieves at American Airlines and or TSA. Thank you for giving me a place to vent.