A 97-year-old woman has been left devastated after a cruel conman tricked his way into her home and stole cash.
In what police have described as a deceitful and underhanded crime, the man knocked on the door of the elderly woman’s Dunfermline home claiming he needed access to check water pressure.
While she went to the kitchen to turn on the tap, he checked other rooms in the house then left without telling her.
Police said that when the woman later went to get her handbag, she noticed a sum of money had been stolen.
The man also left behind a number of items which did not belong to her and they have now been confiscated by police.
Officers have appealed for witnesses to the incident which happened in Elizabeth Street at around 12.30pm on Monday.
The man is described as being white with a stocky build and a full face.
He is around 6ft and was dressed all in black with a zipper jacket, trousers/jeans, a beanie hat and thick woolly gloves. He spoke with a foreign accent and went by the name Hardie.
Sergeant Hilary McKinlay said: “This was deceitful and underhanded crime against a vulnerable member of our community, who has been left very upset by this incident.
“We are now investigating and are eager to trace the man responsible.
“Anyone who was in the Elizabeth Street area on Monday, and recognises the description of the suspect, is asked to contact us immediately.”
Anyone with information can contact Police Scotland on 101 or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.