New York City police are actively investigating a string of recent manhole incidents that have been reported across Manhattan and Brooklyn. Early Sunday morning, officers responded to a call in the Hamilton Heights neighborhood after three men were seen entering a manhole on West 141st Street just before 1 a.m. By the time officers arrived, the individuals had already left the site.
Recent similar sightings
Police say this incident follows a series of comparable events in recent weeks. On Oct. 9, four men and a woman were observed emerging from a manhole on the Upper East Side. The group fled the scene in a black SUV, leaving behind shovels and other tools. Earlier in September, two people were arrested after climbing out of a manhole near a hotel where Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu briefly stayed during the U.N. General Assembly. NYPD and federal agents conducted additional sweeps of the area out of an abundance of caution, but found nothing suspicious.
Brooklyn incident
In addition, police reported that on Sept. 25 three men were spotted climbing out of a sewer at the intersection of Bay Ridge Parkway and 17th Avenue in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, at 4:34 a.m. The manhole was closed by the time officers arrived.
Police assessment
Authorities believe these urban scavengers are not a public safety threat; they appear to be searching for valuables that may have been displaced by recent rainstorms. NYPD spokespersons emphasized that the department will continue to monitor the situation and conduct sweeps as needed to ensure the safety of residents and commuters.
Residents who notice suspicious activity around manholes or other infrastructure are urged to report it promptly to the NYPD.
Original reporting: Allentown News – 6abc Philadelphia — read the source article.
