An elderly Victorian couple has been charged with stealing jewellery from the corpse of a neighbour.
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Police had given the couple time to pay their last respects to the 68-year-old woman while an undertaker was en route to Heywood, in the south-west of the state.
It's alleged they took the time to steal a gold bracelet and a watch from the woman's body.
Police officers' body worn cameras allegedly provide crucial evidence of the jewellery theft.
Detective Sergeant Jason Von Tunk, of the Portland police crime investigation unit, said it was believed the Heywood woman died of natural causes on July 24.
Her neighbours, a 65-year-old woman and a 70-year-old man, had been arrested, charged and bailed to appear in the Portland Magistrates Court.
They have been charged with burglary, theft and offensive behaviour involving human remains.
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Detective Sergeant Von Tunk said the alleged offending was extremely disturbing.
"It's something we don't come across often," he said. "It's alleged behaviour that would outrage any decent person, to interfere with a corpse like that.
"It's really beyond belief. Words can't describe the alleged actions of these people."
The offensive conduct involving human remains charge is a 1958 offence which carries a maximum penalty of two years' imprisonment.
It can be laid if an incident invokes significant anger, resentment, outrage or repulsion in a reasonable person.
Detective Sergeant Von Tunk said it would be alleged the couple checked on the elderly woman as they had a spare key and found her dead in her bed.
Police will allege that before calling 000 they stole a handmade knitted blanket from the bed.
Police determined it was a non-suspicious death and while the undertaker was on his way, just after 3.30pm on July 25, the couple asked to say their final goodbyes.
Police officers stepped out of the room and that's when it's alleged the gold bracelet and watch were removed from the woman.
It's also alleged the elderly couple later returned to the woman's residence and took a large number of items, including a large statue of a child drinking from a fountain, a TV, crystal chimes, owls, framed prints, teddy bears, glasses, a computer, purse, mobile phone and fridge.
They also allegedly took the woman's car.
The deceased woman's daughter raised concerns after being given back her mother's mobile phone and computer tablet and noticed a large number of other items were missing.
Police executed a search warrant at the couple's home about 4pm on July 26 and found the items.
