New York is seeing a bizarre and dangerous trend of people crawling out of manholes in the middle of the night. Around 2:10 a.m. on Friday, five figures were seen by witnesses coming out of a steamy pit at the intersection of 82nd Street and East End Avenue. They grabbed shovels and tools before hopping into a black SUV and speeding away toward East End Avenue, according to ABC News.
This isn’t the first time this has happened, but it is the latest in a series of subterranean trespassing incidents that have left the NYPD scratching their heads. From the Upper East Side to Brooklyn, groups are risking their lives in the city’s underground system for a chance at scrap metal. It’s reckless, it’s illegal, and it shows just how chaotic things can get when people think the city rules don’t apply to them.
A Baffling Citywide Trend
According to Gothamist, the gathering on Friday, Oct. 9 marks the seventh time since May that groups have been seen entering or exiting the city and Long Island sewer networks. This marks the second occurrence on the Upper East Side within slightly more than two weeks. Although the police and the city’s Department of Environmental Protection arrived at the scene, they failed to apprehend the group before it drove away.
The pattern is becoming clear, even if the motive remains murky. During May, a group appeared near Park Avenue and East 61st Street while world leaders visited for the U.N. General Assembly. In the preceding month, Kevin Rodriguez and Samuel Reveron faced detention after an event occurred beneath an Upper East Side hotel that had housed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Rodriguez informed police that he entered the sewer seeking gold, despite experts stating the area contains no valuable items.
The Treasure Hunt Excuse
Why are people doing this? The working explanation from the NYPD is simple: treasure hunting. NYPD spokesperson Brad Weekes stated last month that individuals are known to go into sewers “to look for valuables and other scrap metal after a storm”. It appeared that the men apprehended regarding the most recent Upper East Side trip validated that conclusion.
According to the criminal complaint, the men told police they’d gone into the sewers “to look for valuables that get washed away in the storm drains and sewers.” It’s a wild theory, but it’s the one we’re working with. Two Queens men were later arrested in connection to that East Side sewer dive on trespass charges. They were charged with trespass and conspiracy, yet no arrests have been made for the Friday incident.
Dangerous and Illegal
The city’s Department of Environmental Protection has consistently cautioned against such actions, highlighting that accessing the city’s sewers is both illegal and highly dangerous. These aren’t just random holes in the ground; they are part of a complex, hazardous infrastructure. Yet, people keep going in. From Williamsburg to Bensonhurst, the reports keep coming.
We love this city, but we also need people to stop treating the sewer system like a treasure chest. Whether you’re looking for gold or just trying to get a thrill, the risk isn’t worth it. The police are still investigating, and they’ve made it clear that these activities are a crime. If you see something suspicious, call 911, but don’t go down there yourself.
This is opinion and commentary from the RapForMayor team.
