"Huaquero, huaquero, let's go robbing graves.  Dig, dig until dawn.  Dig, dig until dusk."

Huaquero- is the term originally of Peruvian origin, is now used throughout South America and Mesoamerica. The word  "Huaca" in Quechua language of the Inca meant sacred place or temple.  It had been corrupted into the Spanish-Quechua verb "huaquear", or "to rob graves". Individuals who plunder ancient graves (huacas) were called "los huaqueros".
In Guatemala looters are known as "los huecheros". That slang term is derived from the Maya word for armadillo, "huech", because the looters dig into the dirt with their bare hands.

Throughout Americas looting is still a low-tech affair. The most common tools are pickaxes and power saws. Grave robbing is not culture trait unique to Americas.  Ancient Egyptian tombs were plundered as soon as they were sealed. Tombaroli (Italian version of Los Huaqueros) are still searching for Etruscan tombs. The circle is endless.

What interest me the most, is the other side of the coin. In business two forces are driving the market. Supply and demand. Los Huaqueros provide supply. Private collectors and museums provide demand. The people that are getting rich are mostly the middleman.