Area commander Superintendent Michael Plotecki said police had ramped up patrols in the area and were conducting surveillance on the so-called Wolfpack gang's activities.

He also said police had a number of suspects for a series of arson attacks in Dapto but said the crimes were not related to the gang.

"We have to date identified all the members of Wolfpack and they are very distinct from other youth in the area," Mr Plotecki said.

"It is not a particularly big group and we know who the offenders are, and they are people who we are actively targeting as people who - if they come under our attention - will be treated with zero tolerance.

"We have a number of strategies in place to target these people and we are working through that now to keep their criminal behaviour to a minimum."

A number of residents contacted the Mercury yesterday to express concerns about the gang's alleged aggressive and criminal behaviour, which they said included bullying, violence, theft and vandalism.

One resident said he had complained to the police on a number of occasions about the gang's aggressive behaviour and vandalism of property, but because the offenders were under 18, they were usually let off the hook.

Mr Plotecki said police didn't always take a hard line with young offenders because there was a hope for rehabilitation.

He also said parents needed to take greater responsibility for their children's actions.

"Certainly we share the same concerns as the community, that these people are brought before the courts if they are breaking the law," Mr Plotecki said.

Mr Plotecki encouraged residents who had concerns, complaints or information about the Wolfpack gang to contact police.

Another man who contacted the Mercury said his son was a member of Wolfpack but was not involved in criminal activity.

The father said he believed a Wolfpack offshoot was responsible for the antisocial and criminal behaviour.