Posted on 12/18/2005 11:35:39 AM PST by nickcarraway
About 40 drunken Santas rioted in New Zealand, robbing stores, toppling garbage bins, smashing bottles and assaulting security guards.
Wearing Santa Claus costumes, they rampaged yesterday afternoon through central city streets in Auckland and vandalised a giant Christmas tree in the foyer of the Sky City Casino, the Herald on Sunday reported.
They were taking part in an organised example of "Santarchy", Alex Dyer told the paper, describing it as "a worldwide phenomenon designed to dismantle the commercialisation of Christmas".
Three men were arrested on charges of being drunk and disorderly, and two security guards needed medical treatment for cuts after being hit with beer bottles.
One storekeeper told the paper that the Santas walked into his shop, said "Merry Christmas" and then helped themselves to beer and soft drinks.
WELLINGTON — A group of 40 drunken Santas rioted in New Zealand Saturday night, robbing stores, toppling garbage bins, smashing bottles and assaulting security guards.
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.
They also vandalised a giant Christmas tree in the foyer of the Sky City Casino, the Herald on Sunday reported.
"Santarchy" is "a worldwide phenomenon designed to dismantle the commercialization of Christmas," said a spokesman for the group.
Three men were arrested on charges of being drunk and disorderly, and two security guards needed medical treatment for cuts after being hit with beer bottles. (Wire reports)
Where-were-you-ping
Drunken Santas, man...that's just wrong.
They should get the sack!
I like this! We aging frat boys need a holiday too...
I never heard of this before , but I have the cure. Lock them up and let themw ear an Orange suit for a year. Turn them loose just before next Christmas.
I was just thinking...the only way you could get me to put on a Santa suit and have a bunch of whiney kids line up to sit in my lap at some department store, you would probably have to get me drunk first.
> Are THESE the other New Zealanders you were talking about?
Crikey! I read about this just a few moments ago in this morning's NZ Herald! Nearly spilled my coffee...
Yeah, in answer to your question, I guess they must be! Tho' I'd expect this sort of prank from Dunedin, rather than Auckland.
I think I may have identified part of the problem.
Until police arrest, and the gutless govenrnments prosecute, ALL who take part in these things, there is no incentive for the idiots not to try it.
It would also help if the courts would actually convict and hand out a meaningful sentence.
Santa is a mean drunk:
> I think I may have identified part of the problem.
> Until police arrest, and the gutless govenrnments prosecute, ALL who take part in these things, there is no incentive for the idiots not to try it
I can assure you that our cop was doing his best. He went after those drunken santas single-handed, cuffed 'em and stuffed 'em into the squad car until there was no more room. Then he fingerprinted 'em and did the paperwork, and by time he got back onto the streets it was all over...
The real problem is an acute shortage of Police in New Zealand. It's a thankless task, chronically underpaid, and very dangerous (New Zealand has one of the few unarmed police forces in the world).
,,, it's what we do! I was in Church from 11,00am thru about 12,30pm. That left me plenty of time to put on my latex SantaSuit and...
and vandalised a giant Christmas tree in the foyer of the Sky City Casino
,,, I bet they didn't bet on that happening.
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