Elderly people are being targeted by thieves at hospital and shop car parks in Dundee and Montrose.

Police are dealing with a number of reports of distraction-type thefts being committed in car parks at Ninewells hospital and several supermarkets last week.

Officers said elderly members of the public are being approached and asked for change of a £1 coin.

While they look for change in their purse or wallet, the thief steals bank cards, money, handbags, or anything they can grab while their target is distracted.

A police spokesperson said: "We have had incidents of this kind reported to us at car parks at Ninewells Hospital and two supermarkets in Dundee on Thursday and Friday, and at Aldi supermarket in Montrose on Friday 9th.

"On each occasion, the person who distracts the victim is described as an eastern European female, although we cannot confirm if it is the same person on each occasion."

Police are advising the public not to engage with anyone they are unsure of.

The spokesperson added: "There is a possibility that there have been more incidents of this nature that we have not been informed of, and we would ask anyone who has been a victim of this type of crime in the past two weeks or so to please get in touch with us by calling 101."