A bogus garden worker called at the house of an elderly couple in Broad Oak, Heathfield, and stole around £600.
A man called at the house on Halley Road around 4.30pm yeterday (Sunday December 16) and told the woman who lives there he had cut a tree in the garden and he was owed £25.
The woman, in her 80s, said she hadn’t asked for the tree to be cut but the man was insistant. He came into the kitchen where he continued to ask for the money.
The woman went to go and get some money and returned, handing the suspect the amount he had asked for and left the rest of the money inside a diary.
He offered to show her the work he had done and she started to walk to the garden, however the suspect did not follow her and she returned to the kitchen to find him, and the rest of the money, gone.
Detective sergeant Suzy Joseph said: “This thief took an opportunity to steal from an elderly couple right before Christmas.
“We remind people that if you are answering to someone you don’t know, don’t be afraid to ask to see some ID which you can look at properly.
“If you are in doubt, don’t let them in and phone the company they claim to be from using a phone number from a telephone directory. If you have any concerns about the person please call police on 101.
“This man is described as either late 30s or early 40s, white, around 6ft, muscular, clean shaven with short dark brown hair. If you saw anything suspicious in the area please contact police on 101 quoting serial 1039 of 16/12.”