[larrytown]

Then they descend on the house like buzzards.

Many years ago, part of the family was in the funeral business in a staid midwestern state. Heard and learned a lot from the old timers, but one of the things that really has stuck is the practice of putting a trusted family member or local sheriff's deputy in the LOCKED house during the funeral and/or visitation.

Inevitably, someone WILL show up during this time to acquire some 'promised' item or items. If you're polite, you can give them a card with the executor's name and number - if not, a shotgun muzzle and a 'f**k off!'

[AppyPappy]

My next door neighbor died last July. They found him dead in his truck after 4 days. Vietnam vet, horrible health. He had not been in contact with his kids in 40 years. They descended on the house, threw his mattress in the yard and started ransacking. One kid even drove the truck to his house 4 states away.
I never heard what happened to the body and I hear they quit paying the mortgage but won’t sell the house. These are fairly normal stories around here. Lady up the street went to church with us and she didn’t have a funeral because one sister refused to allow it.
When our uncle was killed in Korea, someone broke into the house during the funeral and stole the Christmas presents. Everyone suspected a relative.

[HartleyMBaldwin]

A friend of ours had her entire house cleaned out while she was at her father’s funeral. Ordinary burglars, though, not relatives or friends (probably). I’d never go to any event like a wedding or a funeral now without leaving someone on watch in our house.