Finding out if someone has died.

Silvertabby

RAS said:

And people aren't keen to notify the local criminals of when the deceased's and their own house will be empty.

This isn't a new or unusual problem, sadly.  On the day of my dad's funeral 30 years ago we left a neighbour's rugby player son and a couple of his mates on guard.  Sure enough, two dodgy looking blokes knocked on the door and seemed surprised to get an answer.  They just muttered 'wrong house' and legged it.