Knifepoint terror of Lillington residents

A car and wallet were stolen during the raid, in which a man suffered a knife wound and a woman was headbutted.

To make matters worse a set of keys including a fob which opens the front door of the Crown Way building was stolen, leaving residents fearing the raiders would return.

New fobs to work with the reprogrammed lock were due to be issued yesterday (Thursday) - seven days after the incident took place - but tenants say Warwick District Council’s housing department took too long to act.

One of the victims, who declined to be named, said on Tuesday: “Since this has happened the council has been awful and the officers haven’t done anything.

“Someone came out that night and fitted a new lock but it didn’t fit the door frame properly.

“It just isn’t safe. Me, my daughter and my partner have been living elsewhere.

“At the end of the day the council is our landlord and it is its responsibility to keep us safe.”

The raid took place last Wednesday at midnight.

Four members of a group of up to six men forced their way into the building and then into the flat where they stabbed an occupant.

He was treated at hospital but the wound was not life-threatening.

The gang stole the keys to a silver Honda Civic and drove away in the car. A gold or yellow coloured Ford Fiesta was also driven away.

One of the gang ran off on foot along Valley Road.

The victim said: “I’m hoping to be rehoused, I’ve had to get the local councillors involved and I’ve been to my doctor to seek medical advice.

“The building has to feel safe for everyone because we don’t know if it will happen again.”

Dave Ward, housing manager for the district council, said officers would have acted quicker had they known the severity of the incident earlier.

He said: “The decision to reprogram the fobs was taken on Monday and we called the contractors to set them up for Thursday morning.

“Originally we had said the fobs would not be changed but that was before we understood the nature and the circumstances of the crime. We weren’t aware of the nature of the crime at first but certainly by Monday we were.”

Anyone with information can call the police on 415000, extension 4170 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.