Lazy Woman's Load--Dumpster Diving Failure

I was on my way to pick my daughter up from school, when I noticed a selection of perfectly aged terracotta pots and saucers set out in an alley.  I've been wanting to repot my plants as work and to pot up some rooted cuttings, one found on the sidewalk, the other rescued from the trash by a coworker.
I got a strong plastic bag from my backpack for the saucers, nested several pots and put them in seemingly sturdy, doubled brown paper bag from a nearby recycling can.  My optimism, or should I say greed, did not pay off. Sadly, the bag busted at the handle and keep ripping more and more. I didn't have time to look for another bag, as I didn't want to be late for pick up.  I set it down along with the saucers in another spot.  I came back the next day and everything was gone. A more clever, better prepared scavenger will be enjoying a beautiful spring planting.