Detectives will investigate links between at least four violent and destructive sprees at short-term rental properties and an emerging western suburbs street gang, amid growing tensions about the handling of such properties and the policing of youth crime.

Police were called to Airbnb rented properties in Docklands and Werribee during a four-hour period overnight on Tuesday to separate but possibly related reports of 40 youths partying wildly.

At the second property, in Attunga Grove, Werribee, police were called because two 17-year-old girls – who had rented the house using their older sisters' identification – were assaulted after threatening to report the youths for gatecrashing. .

When eight police arrived, they were soon overpowered, and had to call for heavily-armed tactical police, complete with the backing of a helicopter and the dog squad.