Xmas > Christmas News

Drunken Santas go on the rampage

Wed, 21 Dec 2005

Santa Claus the epitome of calm and kindness was let down when a group of 40 would be Santa’s went on a drunken rampage, looting, fighting and vandalising a city.

The city was Auckland, New Zealand, and the Santa’s robbed shops, assaulted security guards and caused a danger to traffic. The incident is being called ‘Santarchy’ and was meant to be a demonstration against the commercialisation of Christmas.

The group comprised of men in their twenties and dressed in Santa Claus outfits. They started rioting early afternoon and worked their way through Victoria Park.

The next stage was throwing bottles at cars, jumping in front of them and throwing missiles at cars from bridges.

The next stop was Sky City Casino where the giant Christmas tree was damaged by the mob.

Some of the mob went to a shopping mall from where they stole goods. Two security guards were injured after being hit with beer bottles.

Three of the Santa’s were arrested for being drunk and disorderly. The event was supposed to be a "worldwide phenomenon designed to dismantle the commercialisation of Christmas," according to Alex Dyer the event organiser.

Matt Rogers, police sergeant said the rioters "were more like clowns than Santa’s."

He didn’t want to make light of what happened but added that "It was ‘fairly average behaviour from an organised group of idiots who’d had too much to drink."