The TSA locks are pointless....I got my luggage back without my TSA lock so many times I stopped buying them, I just used the twisty ties from my bread to keep it closed, lol!
As mentioned, dont put anything of value in your checked luggage.

The golf clubs may have just gone to the wrong city - how in the world would an employee be able to walk off the job with them - I've seen how the supervisors watch and frisk the employees in that airport. Besides, I would imagine there isnt much of a market for them in JA. However, anything is possible!

I live in NYC where the agents are consistently busted for theft. Overall, hundreds and hundreds of TSA agents have been terminated for theft here in the US.