Suspicious Figures Caught at Midnight... What's Happening in the Middle of New York's Streets and Sewers?

Suspected to Be Collecting Discarded Items

Authorities Warn: "Unauthorized Entry Is Illegal and Dangerous"

In New York, a series of incidents have been captured on video showing unidentified individuals entering and exiting the city’s sewers at night, prompting a police investigation.

Video filmed in Queens on May 5. Three unidentified individuals are approaching a manhole cover. Capture from NBC New York.

On June 2 (local time), the Associated Press reported that at least three recordings have captured unknown individuals entering or emerging from manholes on the streets of Brooklyn and Queens during nighttime hours. Local police have initiated an investigation into these incidents.

One video, filmed in the early morning of May 29 in the Williamsburg area of Brooklyn, shows a group of approximately seven people crawling out from a manhole in the middle of an intersection with active traffic. Some of them are seen wearing headlamps and carrying tools such as shovels. In one instance, a person narrowly avoids being struck by a passing vehicle as they pull themselves up from the ground.

Another video, recorded around 2 a.m. in a quiet area of Gravesend, Brooklyn, shows a group of about seven people emerging from a manhole. They walk toward two parked vehicles, change into new clothes, and place both their previous clothes and items believed to have been retrieved from the sewer into the cars before leaving. Police estimate that the group entered the sewer around 11 p.m. the previous night, indicating they may have spent about three hours underground.

On May 5, in a street in Queens, three individuals wearing waterproof waders up to their waists and other protective gear were seen opening a manhole cover and descending into the sewer. The last person to enter closed the manhole cover after oncoming cars slowed down and stopped.

Authorities have confirmed that those captured in the videos are not affiliated in any way with public agencies responsible for managing sewer facilities.

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection inspected the sewer infrastructure at the two Brooklyn locations featured in the videos and confirmed there were no issues with the underground facilities. The incident in Queens is still under investigation.

Rob Wilray, spokesperson for the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, emphasized, "There are numerous hazards in the sewers, including toxic and potentially lethal gases, unstable ground, risk of flooding, and confined spaces. Ordinary citizens should never enter plumbing systems, drainage channels, catch basins, manholes, or outfalls."

Police stated that searches have been conducted in the relevant areas, but no arrests have been made as of yet. A source from the New York Police Department suggested that the individuals may be explorers searching for treasure discarded in the sewers, and that the investigation is ongoing.

A similar incident occurred in April of last year, in which three people were arrested and charged with theft and property damage. CBS reported that the men seen in the current videos could also face theft charges.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.