I wondered if anyone has experienced this and if anyone has heard of this happening in other countries. We had a good friend of the family die in NYC and was sent back to the DR for burial. When they put her in the ground they took a hammer to the casket and broke it so thieves do not return in a few days to remove it. I guess they are worth $1,500 on the lower end. I remember seeing them do that to my Father-in-law's casket but that was because it would not fit into the tomb. Then I wondered if this happens in other countries.