I usually play "Invade and Annexe" (online and it uses VAS ammo crate) and have also been playing a lot of "Whole Lotta Altis" (offline and it does not use VAS ammo crate).
Whenever I get killed and revived (or respawned), my laser designator disappears from my inventory. This has been happening for many months and many updates (early 2014?).
More recently, the magazine in my rifle also disappears after a revive.
The other night after a revive, I had lost my laser designator and had a totally different rifle and a totally different backpack with different contents. I dont think someone had tried to swap gear while I was wounded.