A TOWER block resident has called on owners Fortis Living to improve security and vigilance after vandals broke into a community room and trashed it.

The Sky Lounge in Cripplegate House, St John’s, used most days for coffee mornings and other community meetings, was raided last Wednesday (August 29).

Patricia Richardson, who has lived in one of the flats for 15 years, said she was “nearly in tears” when she saw what had been done.

The 79-year-old helps put on events in the lounge – used by residents of the sheltered accommodation block for over 60s, while Worcestershire Reconnections, for lonely people, all use it.

She said “no actual damage” was done, though vandals had rifled through the cupboards, turned over furniture and let off a fire extinguisher – before damaging the automatic door.

“It’s just silly things but it’s the principle of it,” she said, adding that some cheese bought for an upcoming event had been bitten into several times and spat out on the floor.

Ms Richardson said it’s not the first time the lounge has been broken into – previously two TVs were stolen, while other food and tea and coffee are often taken.

She feels the housing association needs to do more to deter such incidents in future, as she believes it could leave residents fearful of leaving their homes.

“If these people have managed to get into the building, then they’ve got a fob so they could be right outside our doors,” she continued.

“Older people will often forget to lock up when they leave – I’ve often got to the lift and realised I haven’t locked the door and gone back.

“But if people have got in the building, they might be trying doors to see if any are unlocked.”

Ms Richardson, who moved into the block after a heart attack, said the lounge has been used as a community room for four years but Fortis “are not vigilant enough”.

She said representatives of the housing association didn’t visit the lounge until two days after the vandalism was reported – with residents themselves having to clear up the mess.

“They gave us a room that costs hundreds of pounds, which we are grateful for – but it’s not good enough,” she added.

Fortis had previously told us the incident has been reported to the police, but were not available to respond to Ms Richardson’s comments.