The 72-year-old woman, who was with her daughter, spent about 20 minutes at the graveside.

A police spokesman said, “While there, they noticed a youth, aged about 18 to 20, sitting on a bench. He was around 5ft 2in, thin, with a pale complexion and short black hair. He had a dark top tied around his middle, and wore blue jeans.

“It was only after they left the cemetery the woman realised her bag was missing. It was later found near to Victoria Hospital, but the cash was missing.”

It is understood a “significant sum” was missing.

Elsewhere in Dundee yesterday, there was another despicable crime.

Thieves took a pair of bolt cutters, worth around £100, from a fire appliance as crews tackled a blaze in a bin recess in Ballater Place, Douglas, around 5 pm.

Anyone with information about either crime is asked to contact Tayside Police on 01382 223200 or speak to any officer.