Originally Posted by
Often1
+1 - Same crime and same liability. No evidence that these "early arrivals" are stolen more than other bags. Also unclear to me that UA doesn't, at least at some large stations, route these separated bags directly to the baggage office as the scanner can show that the passenger isn't on the flight.
Maybe not evidence and not applicable to the US but the agents' perception in China that early bags are prime theft targets is real. We had a missed connection and one of our bags did not show. Air China representative wanted us to sign an indemnity form for the missing bag for the case it "made it early" as bags without owners circling alone on the carousel "aways get stolen" according to the CS agent.
Needless to say I told her to get a grip and they found the bag in storage.