While I agree with advice not to deliberately leave bag unclaimed to visit Polaris lounge, theft of the bags is actually rare, and there are certainly not hordes of people waiting in airports to snag what will often turn out to be relatively worthless pieces of baggage that are not worth the trouble or possible prison time. Also the effort and cost to get to the airport makes it not worthwhile for many petty thieves as the airports are often out of town and need tolls, parking and other costs to be there. And with video cameras everywhere it's hardly worth the trouble for the contents of many, if not most pieces of random baggage, to risk being that person who is caught.

Multiple times I have disconnected and baggage came earlier than me at EWR and it certainly was not 'snagged' but was in UA baggage area waiting for me. What would concern me more is someone inadvertently picking up my (similar looking) bag if I am not there - I have on one occasion intercepted another passenger dragging my suitcase out because she never bothered to look at the tag.