Residents in plush Glasgow city centre flats being 'terrorised' by groups of anti-social youths

Tenants and owners at 10 Buchanan Street, where properties can fetch up to £250k, say there has been a huge increase in anti-social behaviour since January this year.

Householders say the thugs are wreaking havoc in common areas of the flats.

A landing at 10 Buchanan Street with holes in wall and broken window. Image: Colin Mearns

Debra Kanode has lived at the building since September last year. She arrived in the city from Santa Monica in the USA to complete a master's degree at Glasgow University.

She said the issue has been getting progressively worse since the weekend before Valentine's Day in February.

Landing at 10 Buchanan Street with holes in wall and discarded patio furniture. Image: Colin Mearns

She said: “It’s like Glastonbury out there every night of the week. They have stolen chairs from a property and destroyed them. They just tore them apart.

“They have figured out how to open the electrics cabinet. I’m worried that they can get in there and cut the electrics.”

Window at the front entrance of 10 Buchanan Street smashed. Image: Colin Mearns

Yobs have also been kicking in the walls. One woman who lives on the other side of it said she was “in fear for her life”. She added: “I thought they were going to come through the wall.”

Debra added: “I am not faint of heart, I’ve lived in every major city in the world. I lived in New York City in the 1990s and 2000s.

Flats in the block can fetch prices of up to £245,000. Image: Colin Mearns

“They have been to the property multiple times. I have never felt unsafe until after Christmas.

Wall in landing of 10 Buchanan Street almost ripped off by youth gangs. Image: Colin Mearns

“My anxiety has through the roof. I have not told anyone in my family that this is going on. If my mother saw this...well what would your mother say?

“I don’t know where these kids' parents are.

“Nobody gets involved because nobody wants to go up against a bunch of out of control teenagers.

“They are all adrenaline and craziness."

Lifts have also been broken as a result of misuse by the gangs and they often leave behind empty alcohol bottles and sweet wrappers.

The Glasgow Times attended the property on two occasions last week and found significant amounts of damage including broken lights, broken windows and fire alarms with missing glass panels which show they have been set off. 

Lights were also hanging off of the walls and sauce packets had been splattered across the walls.

We also found cupboards full of rubbish and empty bottles.

It is understood the incidents at 10 Buchanan Street are connected to an increase in anti-social behaviour in the city centre in recent months.

Police Scotland say they are tackling the rise by increasing patrols in the area and Debra has met with officers. Chief Inspector Ross Kelly, Local Area Commander, said: “We are aware of a rise in incidents of anti-social behaviour in the city centre over the past few months.

Rubbish and empty alcohol bottles left in a utility cupboard. Image: Colin Mearns

“We are working closely with a number of partner agencies to address these issues. We have also increased police patrols in the key areas that are affected with officers providing reassurance to businesses, security staff and local residents as well as engaging with young people and discouraging anti-social behaviour.

“We are committed to supporting the local community and will continue to take appropriate action when incidents are reported and offenders identified.”

Glasgow City Council are working with Police to tackle the rise in anti-social behaviour.

A spokesperson for Glasgow City council said, “We are aware of some ongoing issues of anti-social behaviour in the vicinity of this address and our CCTV operations continue to monitor the location as required.

“Information and intelligence is provided to our colleagues within enforcement services and Police Scotland to enable a proactive and timely response.

“Our enforcement service has visited the site as part of the ongoing City Centre Initiative and staff have spoken with a resident on the matter.”