TERRIFIED residents were confronted by a gang of masked men who forced their way into a Southampton block of flats.

The robbers tore through Havelock Chambers, in Queens Terrace, breaking down the doors of three apartments and beating up occupants.

The attack has left people living in the block afraid to stay in their homes.

One resident has reported that a man was dragged down two flights of stairs when he confronted the gang as they forced their way into a nearby flat.

The witness, who did not want to be named, said: “We just heard a lot of noise, which I described to the police as sounding like someone was dragging furniture down the stairs.

“About ten minutes later my neighbour came to the door and he had been badly beaten. He said they had broken into a vacant apartment and then he went to intervene.

“He ran back into his apartment to take shelter and they knocked his door down and started beating him and then dragged him down two floors.

“It’s going from bad to worse here. We have talked about just locking the door and moving out.”

The Daily Echo reported last month that residents of Havelock Chambers have been left without a full property management company for two-and-ahalf years, meaning the building has fallen into a state of disrepair.

Leaseholders concerned about security and safety issues tried to club together to take over the management of the building – but a Right to Manage tribunal blocked them from doing so because of a legal technicality.

Police say that three apartments in total were broken into at around 6.15pm on Friday A 41-year-old man was assaulted and left with cuts and bruises. A couple living in the third apartment the gang broke into were also assaulted. Officers say none of the injuries were of a life-threatening nature.

Property was stolen from all three flats – including jewellery, a laptop, electrical items and a watch.

It is understood that there were between three and four men involved in the robbery, who were all wearing dark clothing and had their faces covered.

Anyone with information should contact Shirley CID on 101 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.