How common is a claim that someone has taken estate assets?

Such claims tend to be most in situations where there is only one executor or trustee and they are dealing with the assets without any assistance from a professional e.g. a solicitor. There is no one to oversee their actions and prevent any fraudulent behaviour. Beneficiaries of an estate or trust may never discover what has happened or if they do it can be a long time after the event so cannot hold them to account.