Tayside Police today appealed to football fans who were in the area for the Dundee versus Morton match, which kicked off at nearby Dens Park shortly afterwards, to get in touch if they saw anything suspicious.

Dundee United had also played Blackburn Rovers in a friendly match at Tannadice earlier in the day and it is possible some fans attending that game were also in the area.

Detective Sergeant Marc Lorente, who is leading the investigation, told the Tele, “We have been monitoring CCTV in the area and have noticed there were a lot of football fans floating about at the time.

“Someone is bound to have seen the man responsible running from the scene and we would ask them to get in touch with us.”

Det Sgt Lorente added that the elderly woman was left shaken and “extremely upset” by the incident and also suffered a cut to her hand.

He said a man, believed to be in his 20s, approached the woman from behind as she was removing her house key from her bag, grabbed the purse and ran off.

“She had been at the Azmat Stores to get some messages and as she walked back this guy followed her to her door, threatened her and robbed her of a substantial amount of money,” he said.

The woman had walked from the shop in Hilltown down Main Street and into Caldrum Street prior to being approached by the man.

The robber, who was of slim build and was wearing jeans, was also carrying a quantity of leaflets and police are keen to speak to anyone who may have been legitimately delivering leaflets in the area at the same time, or anyone who saw a leaflet distributor in the neighbourhood.

Police immediately launched extensive investigations into the incident, including making door-to-door inquiries and reviewing CCTV coverage of the area.

Officers are also carrying out extra patrols locally to reassure residents following the crime.

Det Sgt Lorente added, “This was a particularly nasty crime as it was a 69-year-old woman who was involved. She was understandably shaken and upset by what happened.

“The man was carrying a number of leaflets, so we are also keen to speak to anyone who was in the area delivering leaflets at the time or anyone who may have seen leaflets being put through doors.

“We have put on extra patrols of the area to reassure local residents. It is a priority case for us.”

Det Sgt Lorente also warned it was not wise to carry large amounts of cash in public.

Anyone who witnessed the incident, or has information which could assist the inquiry, is asked to contact police on 0300 111 2222.