Dundee Lord Provost Bob Duncan has branded conmen and women who prey on vulnerable residents as the “scum of the earth”.
He hit out as the police said they will take every opportunity to disrupt the actions of “despicable” people who target elderly folk in the city.
The warning comes after two women were robbed in their own homes over the past week.
On Saturday a 76-year-old in South Road had a three-figure sum of cash stolen by a young woman who conned her way into the pensioner’s house, claiming she needed water for her broken-down car.
When she left the Dundee woman realised her navy purse was gone along with more than £100 in cash and irreplaceable family pictures.
In an earlier incident a Monifieth pensioner 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 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.
Mr Duncan was left appalled by the thefts.
“I think it’s just despicable,” he said. “Anybody going into people’s houses in this way is just the scum of the earth. It’s tragic and very, very serious.”
Former Lord Provost John Letford, who lives near the 76-year-old, said he was outraged.
“It’s bad when something happens like this to anyone, but for a young person to do this to a pensioner is absolutely despicable,” he said.
“In my experience it is a minority of young people and it is a shame that this will reflect badly on others who are carrying out good work in the community.
“However, I do believe we are not hard enough on these types of sick criminals.
“Why would you do something like that to an old or frail person?
“At that age all older people are looking for is a wee bit of help and these people need to remember that they will reach that stage at some point in their lives too.
“These people are scumbags. And we need to make sure all our pensioners and vulnerable people are equipped to look after themselves.”
Anyone with information regarding either incident should contact police on 101. Alternatively, information can be passed anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.