Residents in a new estate at Warners Bay say the antisocial and violent behaviour of a gang in the area is out of control.

Each weekend for the past two months, residents have been harassed and kept awake at night by a large group of 14 to 16 year olds, which vandalises people’s homes and loiters on their properties drinking alcohol.

One resident, who did not want to be named for safety fears, said locals regularly had their homes and cars broken into, windows smashed and fences kicked in and grafittied on Friday and Saturday nights.

She also said people continually had to foot the repair bills to clean graffiti and repair damaged property.

But her main concern is the limited police response to frequent calls.

On one occasion, the woman said she phoned police four times because there were eight drunken teenagers on her front porch but there was no police response.

It is not just residents that have been affected.

Local businesses have also had property vandalised and windows smashed, but also did not want to be identified for fear of reprisal attacks from the gang.

A King Street business owner estimated the repairs to his property had cost about $2000 and said the problem was escalating.

When asked what they would like to see done about the problem, residents said they wanted better weekend police patrols in the area and a more concerned response from the authorities.

To get a better police response, Warners Bay Chamber of Commerce coordinator Jenny Barrie said businesses and residents should report the vandalism to the police so the extent and frequency of the damage was better documented.

“From our point of view, if businesses report crime to the police, or the chamber, the stats will show what is happening and we will get more of a police presence.

“There is a shortage of police in Lake Macquarie and the youth know they can get away with it.

“It shouldn’t be up to us to pay for private security, like has happened in other areas.”

Senior sergeant Jason Hale said he was aware of the trouble in Warners Bay and had designated a better weekend police presence in the area.

He also said the police was always busy on Friday and Saturday nights and had to respond to a range of complaints, which were prioritised.

“If there is a violent domestic disturbance obviously police have to attend that ahead of other things.

“If people honestly think they are in immediate trouble and that a matter requires urgent attention they should call 000 (rather than police stations).”