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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
National
Holly Lennon

Glasgow city centre residents 'terrorised' by youths breaking into flat building

Youths are continuing to terrorise residents of a city centre flat block even after they forked out thousands of pounds securing the building.

The residential block on Buchanan Street has repeatedly been targeted by thugs who have broken into the building, kicked in walls, smashed windows, pulled out light fittings, soiled the carpets, and damaged the lift.

The group, aged between 14 and 15, congregate in hallways, leaving people too scared to leave their homes. One woman reported being threatened with a knife during one of the group's rampages.

Read more: Murdered Paisley man lay dead on kitchen floor for four days after being stabbed 13 times

After being told by police that the building wasn't secure enough, owners and tenants were forced to use their own money to install additional security measures including keypads and security strips on the internal doors and front and back entrances.

Damage caused by the youths at the flat block and (Contributed)

But after a quiet few weeks, the group returned on Monday evening and prized the door open prompting fears that the issues could begin all over again during the school holidays.

Staff at the adjoining Zara resulted in calling the police due to the anti-social behaviour of the youths at their shop front.

One owner, who asked not to be named, said; "The issues started in January, around the time kids were given their free bus travel. They began breaking into the building and kicked in every wall on the landing and broke the lift.

The front door was prized open after security measures were installed (Contributed)

"A resident was threatened with a knife on one occasion. There are a lot of international students who stay in the building who are terrified. We have to tell them not to approach any of the group and just to phone the police immediately.

"There's been incidents where they've tried to break into people's apartments while they were inside. These are people's homes that are being targeted.

"We took measures to secure the front and back door and the fire exits so they were only accessible to residents but somehow the kids managed to prize the door open on Monday evening.

"The police were called but instead community safety officers were sent out who just moved them on.

"This is happening in broad daylight on one of the city's busiest streets. We're all paying high council tax, mortgages, and rent as well as having to pay out of pocket for the vandalism to be repaired.

A light fitting pulled out by the teens (Contributed)

"We're now having to consider having the outside doors removed to stop them targeting the building."

Chief Inspector Natalie Carr, local area commander said: “We received a report of antisocial behaviour in Buchanan Street on Monday, 11 July, 2022 however, prior to police arrival a number of youths who were observed on CCTV, left the vicinity.

“The report on Monday was the first we had received since April this year when, as a result of ongoing complaints, we implemented additional patrols, provided personal and home safety advice and at weekends utilised our mobile police unit

“We are also assisting our partners in Glasgow City Council to help resolve any antisocial behaviour reports made.

"With regard to antisocial behaviour issues in the city centre generally, we will continue to provide an enhanced police presence with high visibility patrols to help minimise antisocial behaviour and crime and officers will continue to work with the relevant agencies to tackle any issues."

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