Three young men are facing charges after taking a digger for a joy-ride in Wainuiomata.
Police were called by a resident who heard the digger start at 2.45am on Saturday and drive along a reserve behind some houses.
Constable Allies Edge said one of the men ran off when police arrived, but was caught by a police dog. The other two were still on the digger.
Police are yet to work out how they managed to get the digger started.
