Santas go on rampage in New Zealand

updated 1:04 p.m. ET Dec. 18, 2005

WELLINGTON, New Zealand - A group of 40 people dressed in Santa Claus costumes, many of them drunk, rampaged through New Zealand’s largest city, robbing stores and assaulting security guards, police said Sunday.

The rampage, dubbed “Santarchy” by local newspapers, began early Saturday afternoon when the men, wearing ill-fitting Santa costumes, threw beer bottles and urinated on cars from an Auckland overpass, said Auckland Central Police spokeswoman Noreen Hegarty.

She said the men then rushed through a central city park, overturning garbage containers, throwing bottles at passing cars and spraying graffiti on buildings.

One man climbed the mooring line of a cruise ship before being ordered down by the captain. Other Santas, objecting when the man was arrested, attacked security staff, Hegarty said.

The remaining Santas entered a downtown convenience store and carried off beer and soft drinks.

“They came in, said ’Merry Christmas’ and then helped themselves,” store owner Changa Manakynda said.

Alex Dyer, a spokesman for the group, said Santarchy was a worldwide movement designed to protest the commercialization of Christmas.

Three people were arrested and charged with drunkenness and disorderly behavior.

MORE FROM WEIRD NEWS

Weird news Section Front

After gator warning, woman finds pot lab Ex-tax worker: I stole $11 million for love Visa card surprise: $23,148,855,308,184,500 PETA suggests nondairy Jackson sculpture Naked man in cemetery: I was admiring flowers Python hunts? Florida mulls idea Cops' clue: Panties hanging from pants Oops! Plane doing loops hits car Bride's bouquet causes plane crash in Italy Train-mooning draws smaller, calmer crowd Weird news Section Front   Add Weird news headlines to your news reader: