Looting bug, or working as intended?

lygerseye

Since Homestead dropped, I've gone on a looting spree across Tamriel. To reduce the chances of getting caught, I've been checking containers and only stealthing and looting when there's a "good" item in the container. I've also gone into rooms and scouted all the containers while waiting for the NPCs to walk away. However, I've noticed that any time I pre-check a room of containers and walk a little distance away (far enough to break line of site), then return to loot them, the containers are all empty even thought they contained items only moments before.

I never noticed this happening before Homstead, but then, I was not actively looting items as much as I am now.