The Otago Daily Times canvassed neighbours following the police raid on the Mongrel Mob Aotearoa gang headquarters at 250 Middleton Rd, Corstorphine, yesterday morning.
Those spoken to said there were regular and sometimes noisy parties at the gang headquarters, but few other problems.
Esme Helm (28), a tenant in a nearby Middleton Rd home for the past year, said the gang members were always polite, often saying hello as they walked past, and caused few problems.
She had heard they sometimes jumped neighbours' fences while taking shortcuts through properties, "but I have never seen them do it".
"They have parties almost every weekend but when 11 o'clock comes round the music is always turned down. They are actually some of the best neighbours I have ever had.
"They don't mess in their own neighbourhood," she said.
Another 23-year-old man, who declined to be named, had lived in the suburb all his life and said he was aware of one person who was recently "bashed" in an altercation with gang members.
"They haven't said anything to me. I'm not worried."
A 70-year-old woman, who also declined to be named, moved to the area about one year ago and had not been troubled.
"I'm just a couple of houses down and I have never been fearful," she said.
However, a 72-year-old man also living just a few doors from the headquarters, who also declined to be named, said he would be pleased to see the back of the gang and predicted property prices would rise.
He had lived in the area 26 years and was woken yesterday by members of the police Armed Offenders Squad gathering outside his home, followed by the blasts of stun grenades from inside the gang house.
He believed residents were worried by the gang's presence, saying one neighbour had sold their home as a result, while another moved and let the home to tenants. While he had not witnessed any violent incidents, he had noticed pedestrians crossing the street rather than walking past the gang headquarters.
"We know all they are about is crime. All mobs are the same."
