It is not unknown for people to take the wrong hand luggage off a flight, including laptops.  Make sure your hand luggage stands out, especially if it looks like everyone else's:  put bright sticky tape around it or fasten a strong brightly coloured label to it. If you flight has a transit stop before your destination make sure you can always see hand luggage,  either by keeping your bag at your feet, or placing it in the overhead locker on the other side of the aisle. It's much easier to keep an eye on it if it's opposite, rather than above you.