Videos showing groups of men climbing in and out of New York City manholes at night have prompted an investigation by authorities, after several incidents were captured on surveillance cameras in Brooklyn and Queens. The footage, which spread online, showed individuals lifting manhole covers, entering the sewer system, and later resurfacing hours afterward.
As reported by the Associated Press, at least three separate incidents have recently been documented. The sightings have sparked widespread speculation in the city, especially among those who witnessed the men in the act. Authorities from the New York Police Department (NYPD) and the city’s Department of Environmental Protection (NYC DEP) have examined the locations involved and are looking into their activities. They have also released statements on the issue.
They also emphasized the serious risks associated with entering the sewer system without authorization.“Entering the sewer system is both illegal and extremely dangerous,” an NYC DEP spokesperson said. “Sewers can contain numerous hazards, including noxious and potentially deadly gases, unstable surfaces, flooding risks, and confined spaces. For these reasons, members of the public should never enter a pipe, drain, catch basin, manhole, or outfall.”
Operation Sports App
Your ultimate companion for sports gaming. Access in-depth coverage, thoughtful discussion, and a community built around the games—and sports—you love.
Your ultimate sports gaming companion.
Authorities Say There Is No Evidence of a Threat To Public Safety
In one of the videos, a group of people emerged from a manhole early in the morning in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, with one almost being struck by a passing vehicle as they climbed out. The footage showed that they were wearing gear, including headlamps, and carrying tools such as shovels.
Another incident in the Gravesend neighborhood involved several individuals, reportedly seven, entering a manhole and remaining underground for about three hours before emerging around 2 a.m. Surveillance footage showed them climbing out, changing clothes beside parked vehicles, and leaving shortly afterward.
A third case was recorded in Queens, where several people were seen opening a manhole while wearing hip waders and carrying gear before they entered and climbed down. It happened in the Astoria neighborhood near an auto repair shop owned by Aki Jakupovic, who said he was working in the middle of the night at the time.
His shop’s surveillance captured the incident. In an interview with NBC News, Jakupovic shared his thoughts. “I knew they were up to no good,” he said. “They just looked up, look down and continued like I wasn’t there. You know, I’ve seen a lot of crazy stuff in New York, but this was really something.”
NBC News also reported that investigators have not confirmed whether all of the incidents are connected, and no arrests have been announced. However, both the NYPD and NYC DEP reported that there was no damage to the sewer infrastructure or evidence of a threat to public health and safety. As for their activities, they remain unconfirmed and a mystery. But authorities are trying to find out “who they were” and “what they were up to.”
Published: Jun 3, 2026 11:17 am