Police and community groups are due to meet this week to work on a plan to oust Mongrel Mob members from Tokoroa and halt tension between them and Black Power members.
The two gangs have clashed violently this year in other towns, but Senior Sergeant Steve Bullock said that was not
going to happen in the south Waikato town.
Police were to meet South Waikato District Council members and the Safer Community Council to talk tactics.
Mr Bullock said Tokoroa police had arrested five gang members last week on car theft and receiving charges. The arrests led to the busting of a car theft ring which included Tokoroa, Rotorua, Taupo, Turangi, Palmerston North and Napier.
Two Mongrel Mob members were held in custody and three granted bail when they appeared in the Tokoroa District Court. Arrests were also made in other towns linked in the ring.
Mr Bullock said Mongrel Mob members had moved to Tokoroa from Turangi, but were not thought to have a gang headquarters in the town.
"We don't know why they are here. They are coming in dribs and drabs. We're going to make a concerted effort to make it very uncomfortable for them," he said.
South Waikato mayor Gordon Blake said it was important the gang members did not settle in Tokoroa.
"Most of these organisations, if they think they're under the spotlight, they don't stay in the area."
On November 27, Black Power member Henry Waihape, 29, was shot dead near Wairoa after a confrontation between Black Power and Mongrel Mob members.
In July, Bay of Plenty police dealt with a shootout between the two gangs near Whakatane.
Palmerston North police have been dealing with gang tension all year.
- NZPA
