Gang of youths trash Melbourne Airbnb rental

A violent group of teenagers, described as being of African ­appearance, has caused havoc in a Melbourne Airbnb rental.

A violent group of teenagers has caused havoc in a Melbourne Airbnb rental, trashing a short-stay apartment in the CBD, plundering neighbouring units and taking violent outbursts into common areas of the apartment complex.

Dozens of young partygoers, described as being of African ­appearance, fought in corridors and in the foyer of the Neo 200 complex in Spencer Street yesterday morning, the Herald Sun reports.

It is understood the group of teens was also connected to ­aggravated burglaries of two other apartments in the 37-level building.

Police were called to the tower at 7am following reports of violence erupting as a party spilt out into common areas of the building.

Officers were then notified of the aggravated burglaries where intruders stole a camera, a telescope, a computer console, laptops and phones from one apartment, and laptops, phones and cash from another.

The apartment that had been hired for the party was extensively damaged.

A Victoria Police spokesman told the Herald Sun those involved in the bedlam had dispersed by the time officers ­arrived, and police were not aware of anyone having been ­injured.

The incident was the latest of many instances of violence and extensive damage caused to Airbnb properties rented for parties across Melbourne.

Last weekend, a reservation in Williamstown was cancelled after a tip-off from police that it was fraudulent.

Although locks were changed, intruders later smashed their way in.

Laws passed last month cracking down on short-stay apartments allow for the black-listing of those repeatedly used for wild parties and compensation of up to $2000 for neighbours.

Guests can also face fines of up to $1100 for damaging property, creating unreasonable noise, behaving badly, and causing a safety hazard.

Staff writers