The aftermath of the wild party at an Airbnb property in Werribee last December. Credit:Jason South "The home where the party was held was extensively damaged," a Victoria Police statement said. "No one was arrested at the scene." Residents were staggered that some of those who they believed were involved in the violence left the street and then waited casually at a bus stop less than 100 metres away, while police guarded the house. Sarah had the front windscreens of both cars smashed, the rear windscreen of one car smashed, and a window in front of her house smashed, as the mob warred with police. Rocks used in landscaping at several houses in the area – including Sarah's – became missiles, and large wooden stakes used to tether trees were wielded like swords.

One room had orange stains from capsicum spray. Credit:Jason South "It felt like a war zone," Sarah said. "It was just terrifying." Imtiaz Rahman, who lives across the street from the house, said it had been built less than two years ago. Police remained at the scene hours after the party. Some of their colleagues had been forced to retreat in the face of violence and stone-throwing. Credit:Jason South His car had been significantly damaged, with dints in the roof, and the windscreen smashed.

A bootmark could be seen at the top of the driver's side window. The words 'Apex' and 'MTS' were scrawled on walls and furniture. Credit:Jason South "We couldn't do anything. I felt completely helpless," Mr Rahman said. It is believed the house had been rented by four 17-year-old girls using false identification Imtiaz Rahman said he felt 'completely helpless'. Credit:Jason South

The girls, from Dandenong, had rented the property so they could attend a basketball tournament being held nearby. A gathering at the house on Tuesday night was gatecrashed. The house was rented by some teenage girls from Dandenong. Credit:Jason South The gatecrashers are believed to be linked to the street gang Menace to Society, based in the western suburbs and known as MTS. It is possible the same group destroyed three other properties rented through Airbnb in the past fortnight, including in Altona, Point Cook and Docklands.

Damage in the wake of the party could be seen across the suburban street and surrounds. Credit:Jason South Almost every plaster wall in the house has been damaged, windows have been smashed, the words "MTS" and "Apex" scrawled on furniture, and orange stains from capsicum spray coat a front room. Rubbish including condom wrappers litters the floors. The damage bill is expected to run to tens of thousands of dollars.

Police defended the initial response to the incident, which left officers fleeing the house for their safety, and brushed off questions about why there had been no arrests. Police are still at the scene of the crime. Inspector Marty Allison confirmed police were called to a report of an assault on girls inside the house. It is understood men pulled the girls' hair and threatened them when they said they were calling police about gatecrashers.

Inspector Allison said there were extra police in the area to deal with the basketball tournament, but because the first call was for an assault, there was not a large response initially. The owner of the house felt guilty about the incident, he said. Inspector Allison said property owners need to be vigilant about who they rent their properties to, and said to ask for multiple forms of ID to ensure they can track anyone who damaged their property. An Airbnb spokesman said incidents such as Wednesday morning's were incredibly rare. "Airbnb has zero tolerance for this kind of behaviour, which goes against everything our community stands for.

"We have permanently banned these individuals from our platform and are fully supporting our host. "Our team has also reached out to local law enforcement to offer our assistance with their investigation. We hope justice is served quickly." Docklands party gets out of hand It has also emerged there was another out-of-control party held in a rental property over night, this one in the Docklands. Police attended the apartment following noise complaints and reports of "bottles being thrown off an apartment balcony".

"Members attended in a rented apartment in Caravel Lane about 11.30pm where they requested about 40 people to leave the premises following the noise complaint," a spokesman said. "The group left upon police request and remained outside the apartment complex for some time. "Members continued to patrol following subsequent noise complaints and all parties eventually dispersed. No further police action was required." Two weeks ago a beachfront holiday rental in Altona was trashed with walls ripped out, windows broken and fittings smashed.

The property – on Altona's Esplanade — was rented on Booking.com with a loud party taking place on the Saturday night. Items were stolen, objects and furniture were damaged and doors were torn apart during the party. Victoria's state Labor government is trying to push short term rental laws through parliament's upper house. The laws – which have passed the lower house – seek to have properties repeatedly used for "unruly" parties to be banned from being rented out on a short term basis. However the Greens want the bill to be stronger.

with AAP