SANTARCHY!

Gang of boozing Santas rampage in New Zealand
combination of reports from The Associated Press and Reuters

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, 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. Other Santas, objecting when the man was arrested, attacked security staff members, 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," convenience store staff member Changa Manakynda told the newspaper, which reported the Santas also attacked a Christmas tree.

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

Three people were arrested and charged with drunkenness and disorderly behavior. Police said identification was a key issue as they tried to sort out which of the 40 men and women had done what.

"With a number of people dressed in the same outfit, it was difficult for any witnesses to confirm the identity of who was doing what," Senior Sergeant Matt Rogers told Reuters.

¶ Monday, December 19, 2005