27 Mar 2009

Sailors accused of stealing digger, smashing building

7:07 am on 27 March 2009

Three Australian sailors will appear in New Plymouth District Court to face charges they stole a digger and smashed up a building site on a drunken night out.

The three sailors from New South Wales left HMAS Kanimbla when it docked at New Plymouth over the weekend.

Police say the men aged 22, 23 and 28, were drunk when they climbed on a digger at a plaza that was under construction. The sailors are said to have smashed machinery and shops and caused a gas leak when they crashed into a pipe.

The marine technicians have been charged with unlawfully taking a motor vehicle and will appear in the court next week.