A Monifieth pensioner has told how she was robbed of up to £1,000 by bogus workmen who conned their way into her home.
Isabella Ovenstone, 83, had her handbag and purse stolen by the thieves, who targeted her at her Broomhill Drive house and snatched the items while she was distracted.
As well as taking £200 in cash the criminals enjoyed a spending spree around Tayside using her bank cards, removing £800 from her account before she could cancel the cards.
The bogus workers struck at her home a week past Sunday, luring her into leaving the room while one of the men took the opportunity to steal her handbag.
Isabella said: “I never should have let them in. I was making my tea and I was worried about it burning.
“Somebody knocked on my back window and said there was something wrong with my gutters. I said I’d get things sorted if it was needed and they went away, but the man came back an hour later.”
He asked Isabella to inspect the apparent problem from her bedroom then swiftly told her he had to leave.
“I’ve got a trolley because I can’t move about the same. By the time I came back into the living room that was him gone I heard the door slam. I went to pick up my handbag and it was gone.
“He was away with everything £200 and my bank cards, which he used to spend in two or three places in Fife.”
She said: “The bank said I’m not going to get it back. I had my pin number in my bag. I’ve never had anything like this happen before. It’s hellish. I’d always felt very safe in here but I don’t really now.”
Isabella added: “I’ll be very wary in future. I hope the police get them because I wouldn’t like it to happen to anyone else.”
Isabella said a neighbour told her there had been a second man, but she had only seen one.
A police spokesperson said: “We would urge anyone with any information to contact us. The suspects are described as being in their late forties or early fifties, wearing dark clothing.”