Melbourne's police officers have been warned they could be lured into violent ambushes after a string of terrifying attacks by African youth gangs in the city's west.

Victoria's police force was alerted this week to a 'deliberate ploy' by groups of teenagers to trap officers in backstreets and attack them, the Herald Sun reported.

A gang of up to 40 African teens recently ran towards a laneway in Tarneit as police followed a car driven by a boy as young as 13, according to a police memo.

'Police saw a group of Africans who were being very hostile,' the memo reportedly read.

Melbourne's police officers have been warned they could be lured into violent ambushes after a string of terrifying attacks by African youth gangs. Police are pictured responding to Wednesday morning's incident in Werribee

Victoria's police force was alerted this week to a 'deliberate ploy' by groups of teenagers to trap officers in backstreets and attack them. These youths were caught up in Wednesday's incident

Police faced an onslaught of flying rocks in Werribee and were forced to withdraw before the riot squad was called in

'As the vehicle approached Destiny Lane, a group of 30 to 40 Africans ran towards Destiny Lane.

'It's believed this was a deliberate ploy to lure police into the laneway, with no ­escape or exit paths unless they drove through [a] group of people… [where they could be] easily surrounded.'

Meanwhile, it seems a new youth gang, which calls itself 'Menace to Society' has emerged as a possible rival or ally to Melbourne's notorious Apex gang.

The group is believed to be responsible for a terrifying rampage at an Airbnb property in Werribee in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Images taken from inside the Airbnb property show pepper spray on the walls where police were forced to stop and out-of-control party

Among the graffiti to be sprayed inside the Werribee house included words reading 'Apex' and 'MTS' - an apparent reference to the emerging street gang

Police were called to the home at Attunga Grove in Werribee at 3.30am on Wednesday but were forced to retreat when partygoers began throwing rocks at them (aftermath pictured)

Police faced an onslaught of flying rocks and were forced to withdraw before the riot squad was called in.

When the drama cleared, a trail of destruction remained, with the AirBnB rental house at the heart of the damage.

Pepper spray residue, blood splatter, graffiti and broken glass were left in the three-bedroom property, while several walls had holes kicked in them.

Among the graffiti to be sprayed inside the house included words reading 'Apex' and 'MTS' - an apparent reference to the emerging street gang.

Photos taken from inside the house show walls kicked and punched in, mattresses thrown on top of furniture and pepper spray splattered across bedroom curtains

A car with a smashed windscreen is pictured following the out-of-control scenes in Werribee

Trouble is brewing between Melbourne's opposing gangs, sources have told the Herald Sun, though it is unclear if Menace to Society and Apex are rivals or collaborators.

The thugs involved in the Werribee incident used poles to smash car windows and tried to kick down the doors of neighbouring houses.

Terrified residents cowered in their homes at the height of the violence as they tried to avoid the gang - or gangs.

'It was terrifying... I grabbed my young daughter and went to the back room so that way, if they got in, we'd be harder to get to. They were looking for trouble,' one said.

The thugs involved in the Werribee incident used poles to smash car windows and tried to kick down the doors of neighbouring houses

Rocks were thrown at officers and cars at an out-of-control Melbourne party on Wednesday morning

Another said the youths were wearing basketball jerseys and police were clearly outnumbered.

'As soon as they started throwing rocks at the police they thought they could do anything and it started getting worse... They treat it as a game,' she said.

Police were initially called to a report of two women being assaulted but heavily armed riot squad officers attended after violence escalated.

No arrests were made.

The Public Order Response Team and the heavily armed Critical Incident Response Team were called in to break up the party