Originally Posted by
jackal
Still, I can't see how it's the LAX baggage handlers, though, as the bags aren't sitting around in a bagwell--they're transported directly, then, to CBP.
And while there is some argument that CBP "stamp monkeys" (not my words) aren't true LEOs, I'd wager that they are at least a little less likely to consider petty theft than a low-level TSA agent.
To me, it seems 95% likely it happened at MEX.
Nothing race-based here. If the OP had a 4-hour connection in LAX and the iPad were missing upon arrival at MEX, I'd pin it squarely on the baggage handlers in LAX (or possibly TSA).
CBP rarely sees inbound bags before they pop up on the carousel in the arrivals area, at which point everyone can see what's going on. Occasionally someone will watch the plane being unloaded, but they're not opening bags on the ramp. It's highly unlikely that CBP even had a chance to lift the OP's iPad.
Same goes for the baggage handlers at LAX; just like you said, the bags come off the plane, go on a belt, and pop up in the customs arrivals area. There's no time to steal from them.
It's essentially impossible for anything to have gone missing at LAX because the bag is either in the hold, moving, or on the belt. This assumes, of course, that the bag arrived on the same aircraft as the OP and didn't get misdirected at LAX. Generally a safe assumption if it came up on the customs belt upon arrival.
I'm not sure how it's racist for the OP to point out that bag handlers steal things... Given the number of airports where things go missing from bags, I'm pretty sure theft is equal opportunity.