Meanwhile, a 21-year-old Dundee man appeared in private at the sheriff court yesterday on a petition alleging assault to severe injury and theft in relation to an early morning incident in Garland Place on Friday morning.

Now one of Dundee’s top cops has warned that people should always keep their wits about them when out in public, but stressed such incidents are rare and there is no need for undue alarm.

Detective Chief Inspector Willie Semple said a number of simple precautions should always be taken when out alone.

“First and foremost I want to say that serious and violent crime, including robbery, is a priority for us and we are not seeing an increase in the number of these types of incidents,” he said.

“We have been fairly successful in identifying and arresting people involved in these kinds of crime.

“There is no need for panic but to just consider your movements and take some simple precautions.

“Most of the robberies we see are not pre-planned and are in fact opportunistic, where someone has responded to a situation.

“We would advise people to take the simple precautions of staying in well lit areas during the night and to not obviously carry anything of value.”

Mr Semple added that Tayside Police is committed to reducing the number of violent crimes in the area.

During Saturday’s incident, a woman was assaulted and had her handbag stolen as she walked from Marketgait West into Brown Street, near the Travel Lodge hotel car park, at around 6.45pm.

Councillor Jim Barrie — whose west end ward contains Brown Street — described the incident as “of great concern”.

“It is a worry because in that area there are a lot of dark corners,” he said.

“I would hope people don’t need to be afraid to go out on their own but Dundee is like any other city — there is always some danger, particularly late at night.

“But this was at 6.45 in the evening so it goes to show you need to be streetwise at any time of the day.

“I do think girls in particular should not walk about on their own, especially late at night when the clubs are coming out.”

Mr Barrie’s viewpoint was echoed by the area’s Liberal Democrat councillor Fraser MacPherson.

“The immediate concern is for the lady that has been mugged,” he said.

“It must have been a very unpleasant experience for her.

“Obviously these types of incident are few and far between, but when these things happen they are of great concern.

“I know the police take these types of incident very seriously and are putting in every effort to apprehend the person responsible.

“I think it is important that no matter where anybody is they keep a close eye on anybody acting suspiciously.

“As I say, this type of thing doesn’t happen every day, but that makes it all the more concerning when it does happen.”

The culprit in the Brown Street incident is described as being of slim build, with short, dark hair.

He was wearing jeans and a dark-blue hooded top, and was seen running towards Brown Street.

Anyone with information that could help the police should contact them on 0845 600 5705.