Bogus good Samaritans who pelt bank customers with excrement fleeced a couple of £4,000.

Albert and Doreen Croucher had withdrawn the cash from a branch of Nationwide Building Society to pay for a conservatory they were hoping to have built.

They were walking along Gildredge Road in Eastbourne when Mr Croucher was hit by, what he believes was, either human or dog excrement liquidised and squirted from a washing-up liquid bottle.

Mr Croucher, a caretaker for Eastbourne library, said: "We were walking down the road towards the library. I felt this blast on the back of my head and the side of my face. The smell was instant and vile.

"I thought a builder's van had reversed over a bag of dog poo which had exploded.

"Then a man came over to us and said it had come from the buildings above us.

"A lady, who at the time seemed very kind, came over with tissues and helped clean it off me. It wasn't until we got back to our car that I realised she had fleeced me.

"I even thanked her for helping me."

Mr Croucher had put the money in an envelope and the pocket of his jacket which he kept zipped.

He said: "The lady must have taken it from my pocket while cleaning me with tissues. She is marvellous at what she does.

"It's not just about losing the money. It's very unhygienic. You don't know what you could catch."

Police believe the couple are watching people in banks and building societies.

Police warned about the bizarre crime in some editions of The Argus this week (Mon 12).

The Crouchers, who live in Finistere Avenue, Eastbourne, are advising other bank and building society customers to ask for private rooms when they withdraw large amounts of money.

Mr Croucher, 58, said: "We now ask for a private room. We would hate this to happen to anyone else."

The couple have since had to use all their remaining savings and take a loan from Nationwide to pay for the conservatory.

The robbery was one of three to have taken place in Sussex in recent weeks.

On February 14, the day before the Crouchers were robbed, a woman had £6,000 stolen in a similar theft.

Another incident happened on March 8.

A man had £1,500 after leaving Barclays Bank in Brighton.

The man was described as Eastern European, 65 to 70 years old, about 5ft 6in tall and of stocky build. He wore a dark cap and a dark quilted jacket.

The woman was about the same age and also Eastern European. She was stocky and wore a headscarf and quilted jacket.

A Sussex Police spokeswoman said they would be liaising with neighbouring forces to find out whether the bizarre thefts have occurred else where in the region.

She said: "If you're taking large amounts of money out the be careful. Someone might be watching you. If you do get this liquid thrown at you, don't let the money out of your sight.

"It's a repulsive crime."

Anyone with information about the robberies can contact Sussex Police on 0845 6070999.

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