Manhole Prowlers in New York City Remain Unidentified
9 reported3 unconfirmed
Security footage in New York City has captured people entering and exiting manholes in Queens and Brooklyn, sparking local curiosity and tabloid attention. The New York Police Department has speculated the individuals are scavengers looking for valuables, but no definitive explanation has been confirmed. WIRED consulted anonymous urban exploration content creators, who largely did not recognize the people in the footage. The creators stated that sewers are risky due to lack of cell service and contain nothing of value, and that such exploration is not common in the urbex community. The NYPD and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection investigated the locations and said the situation does not pose a public safety threat, though the DEP stressed the activity is illegal and dangerous.
What’s reported
On May 5, security footage showed three people wearing hip waders entering a manhole in Queens.
On May 29, a camera captured a group exiting a manhole in Brooklyn, and another group was seen emerging from a different Brooklyn manhole miles away.
Some individuals wore headlamps and carried what appeared to be shovels and flashlights.
The NYPD speculated the men are scavengers looking for jewelry, guns, or other valuables.
Urban exploration creators who spoke to WIRED did not recognize anyone from the footage and did not claim them as part of the urbex community.
One creator said sewers contain “doo-doo water and a few needles” and have “basically zero cell service.”
Another creator noted the men in the videos “were way too sophisticated” and some switched clothes after emerging.
The NYPD and DEP investigated the locations and said the situation does not present a threat to public safety; the DEP called the activity “both illegal and extremely dangerous.”
WIRED could not locate any recent urbex content showcasing New York City’s sewer systems.
Open questions
Who the individuals entering and exiting the manholes are.
What they were doing in the sewer system.
Whether the activity is connected to urban exploration or something else.
Key figures
New York Police Department (NYPD)
New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
Anonymous urban exploration content creators
Sources: Wired
