SAN DIEGO -- Baggage theft at airports is nothing new for many air travelers.

Since the creation of the Transportation Security Administration five years ago, what is new is the risk of theft by federal employees.

A TSA officer at Lindbergh Field has come forward to 10News investigators with very serious allegations.

“Once I give my trusted item to the airline, it comes back to me with items missing,” said airline traveler Terry Givens.

Givens’ story is familiar to millions of airlines travelers. He checked his bags at the airport with a pair of iPod speakers inside, only to find an empty speaker case when he arrived at his destination. He bought a new set of speakers, but was robbed again, the second time in a month.

Each year, 8 million pieces of luggage are screened by the TSA at Lindbergh Field. Roughly 15 percent of those bags are opened and physically searched.

The TSA’s primary job is to check for explosives, but according to a TSA officer 10News investigators spoke to, passengers who fly out of Lindbergh Field are targets of theft.

“People are stealing. A lot of bad stuff is happening there, but you can only watch. There is nothing you can do,” said TSA officer “Robert.”

Robert agreed to talk to 10News only if his identity was kept secret. He spoke about cases of misconduct and theft within the TSA. One particular allegation described how one officer enjoyed searching through golf bags for money.

“He would go in and take the money and change and put it in his pocket. Then, if he had a lot of money in his pocket he would transfer the money into his backpack,” said Robert.

Robert said that was just one example of many types of theft.

He also claimed the supervisors don’t do their jobs. According to Robert, they either stay in their offices or, in some cases, are having sex in the airport parking lot with subordinates. He said he is afraid to report these allegations for fear of reprisal.

“They have a relationship outside their work area on their work time and they should not be doing that,” said Robert.

“I would be very surprised if that activity is going on at this airport,” said Michael Aguilar, federal security director at Lindbergh Field.

Aguilar said he is skeptical about the allegations of sexual misconduct in his department. He told 10News 286 claims of missing, lost or damaged items were field by Lindbergh passengers last year.

“The numbers of claims that we have are small, but the bottom line is one is too many,” said Aguilar.

Aguilar gave 10News investigators access to the TSA baggage inspection area of Terminal Two at Lindbergh Field. It is a place air travelers never get to see.

The inspection area contains an elaborate automated system of screening machines, conveyer belts and officers. It takes about two minutes for a bag to enter and clear the TSA before returning to the airlines.

“That's as long as we own it and then it's gone,” said Aguilar.

However, that does not mean a theft can’t take place. From a hidden surveillance video of a TSA officer taken three years ago, it showed that in less than 45 seconds the officer is able to steal a gold bracelet from a piece of luggage.

10News investigators noticed that with security cameras everywhere in the airport, none were found in the baggage area. While there are plans to install cameras in the area in the future, there are currently no cameras to monitor the officers who have the right to search your luggage.

“It seems to me that if they're taking items out of bags unmonitored, there are problems. Maybe they can put things in bags unmonitored,” said Givens.

10News investigators learned that as long as you have a receipt, you can file a claim for lost or stolen items like electronics and jewelry, though you might have to jump through several hoops.

In just a four-month period last year, the TSA paid $1.1 million to settle claims. However, being a federal department that is $1.1 million of U.S. tax dollars.

If you determine that there’s an item missing from your checked baggage, you can also check with the airport lost and found.

You may file a claim with TSA or with your airline, or both if you’re not sure which is liable. Check your airlines’ “Conditions of Carriage” or “Contracts of Carriage” to see what they are liable for. Most airlines are not liable for electronics, jewelry, cash, computers, etc.

TSA has a Web site for creating claims, tracking claims, etc. It also has information about the types of locks you can put on your checked baggage.