Manhole incident reported
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The gist
NYPD probes video of three people emerging from a Manhattan manhole near Penn Station. The incident follows similar May sightings, with no arrests yet.
Background
New York City has seen a series of incidents where groups of people were spotted entering and exiting manholes, sparking public curiosity and police investigations. The latest video, posted on TikTok, shows three individuals in overalls and headlamps climbing out of a manhole near Penn Station. This follows earlier incidents in Brooklyn and Queens, and authorities are checking for connections.
How it unfolded
- May 2026Two incidents in Brooklyn: groups of seven and eight people were seen entering manholes in Gravesend and Williamsburg, then emerging hours later.
- Aug 18, 2026Three people in overalls and headlamps were recorded emerging from a manhole at 32nd Street and Seventh Avenue near Penn Station at around 4:19 a.m.
- Aug 21, 2026The video was posted on TikTok, drawing attention and prompting NYPD awareness.
- Aug 24, 2026NYPD confirms investigation is ongoing; no arrests made. DEP inspected and found no structural damage.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- NYPD: 'There are no arrests and the investigation is ongoing.'
- Official
- Department of Environmental Protection: entering the sewer system is 'both illegal and extremely dangerous.'
- Detectives
- Detectives believe many underground scavengers are migrants searching for valuables, citing a scavenger culture in Venezuela.
Still unverified
Detectives' belief that the individuals are migrants is based on their investigation and not confirmed. Connection between the incidents is unclear.