Vandals in court

Four teens, including two students from one of Auckland's top schools, have appeared in court charged with throwing champagne bottles and rocks at parked cars in a holiday rampage.

A 16-year-old, 17-year-old and two 18-year-olds, both of whom were 17 at the time of the alleged offending, each face 21 criminal damage charges, including setting a wheelie bin alight and throwing a rock through a window into a bedroom where a mother and child were sleeping.

The teens, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were arrested last month after the midweek rampage through Auckland's eastern suburbs on January 13 and 14.

Police allege the group drove around throwing bottles and rocks through the windows and on to the bonnets and roofs of at least 20 parked cars, causing more than $30,000 worth of damage.

One youth is a student at King's College and another had recently left the Otahuhu school.

Acting principal Roy Kelley was aware of the charges but said the school would await the outcome of the court case before deciding what action was required.