A dad was left feeling afraid in his own home after hapless thugs smashed their way through his window by accident.
The man, who has asked not to be named over fears of repercussions, had the windows of his Withington flat smashed by men with weapons on Sunday night (October 17) around 10pm while he and his daughter slept, he says.
The victim says the men broke into his flat before realising they were actually looking for the his neighbour.
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Following the attack, he contacted Southways Housing Trust, who own the property, and was told it could take up to six weeks for his windows to be repaired due to a ‘national shortage of the required materials’.
He has been left shaken up and has asked to move properties, saying he will not let his daughter stay in the flat ever again.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, he said: “You kind of keep thinking, what if they hadn’t realised it was the wrong flat.
“That’s what I keep thinking, what if something had happened to my daughter.”
“It’s not worth the risk. She’s my priority.”
Speaking about his frustration with Southways over how they dealt with the burglary, he said: “I told them I didn’t feel safe. I don’t feel they were very supportive. That was the response: to get on Manchester Move, I don’t even know how that works."
Adding: "It’s shook me up as a person and I’m not like that.”
Southways Housing Trust boarded the windows up. However, the man still did not feel safe and workers from the trust returned to the property to improve the work.
Following a post shared to the private Withington Facebook group the man expressed his upset at being left feeling ‘paranoid, nervous and unsafe’.
However, Southways told the M.E.N that they had sent somebody to the man’s property to reassure him.
A spokesperson for the housing trust said: “We are sorry that the tenant feels unsafe and are working with him towards a resolution.
“The incident was unpleasant and the safety of our tenants is a great concern for us.
"Upon initial contact, we attended the property as an emergency, boarded the windows and secured the home to make it safe. The tenant later informed us they felt this was not enough, so we immediately attended to increase the strength of the boarding.
"At that time, the tenant also mentioned moving properties. We provided initial information around housing options and how you apply in Manchester.
"The tenant and other neighbours have been visited to carry out a risk assessment and provide reassurance and support and we are also liaising with the police.
"We will continue to provide support and assurance, including advice on options to move home.
"There are delays in getting glass supplied at present, however we are doing everything we can to source materials more quickly.”
Greater Manchester Police have been contacted for comment.
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