A woman aged 90 fought off an attacker who had just cut the strap to her handbag as she walked home.
The pensioner refused to hand over her belongings to the man, who walked up behind her and snipped the bag-strap in Musselburgh, East Lothian.
The incident is the latest of several robberies or assaults in the town over the past eight weeks and police believe a man is deliberately targeting vulnerable OAPs.
A 78-year-old woman had her bag snatched as she walked home alone in nearby Inveresk last month, while purses, phones and bags have all been stolen during recent street attacks.
Police Scotland has launched a special operation to catch those responsible.
DC Steven McCormick said: "We believe the suspects are targeting elderly ladies and we are extremely concerned that another attack may result in a serious injury to the victim."
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